Law enforcement officers through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) have in the last 12 hours arrested 87 protesters across the country for public violence-related offences.

Natjoints spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says since the beginning of the integrated deployments, the Natjoints and the respective Provjoints have been monitoring the situation closely to prevent and combat any acts of lawlessness and criminality.

“Of the 87 arrested, 41 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in North West and 15 in Free State. There are also arrests in other provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.”

She says updates will be provided as and when information becomes available.

Mathe adds that at least 24 300 tyres have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies.

“These were tyres that were strategically placed for acts of criminality. [A total of] 6 000 [tyres] were seised in the Western Cape, 4 500 in the Free State, 3 600 in Gauteng, 1 513 in the Eastern Cape and a few in other provinces.”

[IMPOUNDED] These are some of the tyres found by @SAPoliceService in the Western Cape, the province alone had 6 000 tyres impounded, 11 000 were taken off the streets in the Eastern Cape. Tyres are used to blockade roads and cause descriptions during protests . #Nationalshutdown pic.twitter.com/xUnaS3li2V

— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) March 20, 2023

Mather says the Natjoints re-affirms its commitment to serving and protecting both law-abiding protestors and non-protestors.

“The Natjoints will not allow and tolerate any forms of lawlessness and acts of criminality. Anyone found to be contravening the law will be dealt with accordingly.

“Law enforcement officers are on high alert and will continue to prevent and combat any acts of criminality, maintain public order, protect the inhabitants of South Africa and their property as well as uphold and enforce the law,” warns Mathe.