DURBAN – Police have arrested 30 suspects since Thursday 8 October following unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The acting national commissioner of the SAPS, Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane, commended police officers and law enforcement agencies for intelligence-led interventions to maintain law and order.
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Of the 30 arrests, 25 were made in KwaZulu-Natal and five in Gauteng for offences including public violence, illegal gathering, obstruction and resisting arrest. Those arrested include individuals identified as ringleaders who allegedly threatened to disrupt planned football matches in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
The police in Durban arrested a man who issued threats that he and his followers would shut down the Moses Mabhida Stadium to prevent the MTN8 Cup Final match between Orlando Pirates FC and Mamelodi Sundowns from taking place.
The suspect had gathered a group of people at the King Dinizuku Park with the aim of staging a march. Those who were with him managed to run away.
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“The SAPS will not allow threats, intimidation or unlawful conduct to undermine public safety, disrupt sporting events or destabilise communities. Our responsibility is to protect lives, safeguard property and uphold the rule of law. We will act decisively, professionally and within the confines of the law against anyone who threatens public order,” Dimpane said.
She commended members of the SAPS, Crime Intelligence and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts to prevent violence and maintain stability.
‘Police will respond firmly and impartially’
Dimpane said police would continue to coordinate intelligence-led operational responses. The deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in KwaZulu-Natal forms part of broader stabilisation interventions undertaken through cooperation between the SAPS and the SANDF.
Police spokesperson Maj. Gen. Nonkululeko Phokane said police remained on high alert across all provinces. She said sporadic incidents had been reported in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo, but were swiftly addressed through operational interventions.
“The Constitution protects the right to assemble, demonstrate and present grievances peacefully. However, this right does not extend to intimidation, looting, malicious damage to property, public violence or the obstruction of lawful activities. Such conduct constitutes criminality, and the police will respond firmly and impartially in accordance with the law,” Dimpane said.
She called on communities to work with police, share information and refrain from participating in unlawful activities that endanger lives and livelihoods.
Dimpane said the priority remained the prevention of violence and the protection of all people, with every effort directed at maintaining peace and avoiding loss of life.
