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The social turmoil that erupted in July 2021 is still fresh in our minds. But do Newcastillians need to be concerned about further damage and looting this weekend?
On Wednesday, 24 November 2021, Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale informed parliament that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is prepared and on standby to deal with any unrest in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend.
He went on to say that the SAPS was aware of probable looting intelligence throughout the province and that the government was prepared to respond to any threats. According to social media posts, people responsible for the July looting may attempt to use Black Friday as a pretext to enter businesses and wreak mayhem once more.
Mathale emphasises that the SAPS is working closely with the intelligence community, and they are well aware of the possibilities. “We are sharing information with the state security agency and the defence department, and we are quite certain that we will be able to respond should something like this happen that we were not able to adequately respond to previously.”
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Police stated that officers from other provinces were on standby. This means that if additional police are needed in impacted areas, the state will do so. Police in KwaZulu-Natal, according to Mathale, are holding meetings with community policing forums and community organisations to discuss the issue.
As the SAPS prepares for potential looting, KZN police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker stresses, “Please ignore messages circulating on WhatsApp or social media platforms that seek to create panic in the community and encourage people to participate in any form of criminality.”
On top of this, Naicker adds that police officers are always deployed to curb criminal activities every year during Black Friday. “Police will be deployed across the province at malls and other hotspots that will have increased traffic and people. We are also appealing to citizens to always be cautious and contact police should they notice any suspicious behaviour.”
Furthermore, the Brigadier stated that the agency would release an official statement if the SAPS learns of any significant threats. Therefore, Newcastillians are advised to exercise vigilance when participating in Black Friday activities and avoid engaging in any criminal activity.
What are your opinions on the subject? Let us know what you think in the comments area below.
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