Soweto: 22 January 2015 – Tonight the Gauteng Police Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba announced further deployment of a large contingent of police officers in various areas of Soweto.
After a relatively quiet day in Soweto, looting flared up in most parts of the township soon after schools closed this afternoon.
Police from various police stations had to be called back from their rest days. Members working administration duties at both provincial and cluster levels were also called in to saturate Soweto with a view of preventing further looting from taking place.
The deployment is being done strategically as we receive intelligence. We have also as identified hotspot areas in Naledi, Jabulani, Dobsonville, Protea Glen and Moroka where deployment has been
intensified.
It is heartening to report that community leaders have come forward in numbers calling for calm and they are also assisting shop owners that are affected by the looting.
This looting started following the killing of an alleged 17 year old robber by a shop owner. Thus far we have arrested one suspect for this murder and the people of Soweto are urged to allow the law to take it’s course.
General Lesetja Mothiba personally briefed the police contingent on the situation in Soweto highlighting that wrongdoers must be arrested and brought to book.
Police are as far as possible assisting shop owners in the affected areas. We have advised the owners to close but it is their prerogative to remain open. We want to bring this situation under control as soon as possible but most importantly, we need to identify the instigators. We do not believe that this looting can just take place uncoordinated.
Thus far police have arrested 83 people for public violence, one for murder, 8 for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and 10 firearms have been recovered.
Police are monitoring the situation and a further update will be provided at midnight.
