No new incidents of unrest reported

There were no incidents of violence or looting today, Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed in a media briefing this afternoon (July 19).

She confirmed that six key instigators of the unrest have now been arrested on charges of inciting public violence. Three have already appeared in court and remain in police custody until their bail hearings which should take place later this week. One has been released on bail.

The minister confirmed that 250 unrest-related deaths have been recorded.

On a brighter note, she said there had been no incidents recorded on either the N3 or N2 following their reopening. Clean-up operations are in full swing in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal and in the latter, community engagements continue to ensure that peace and stability are fully restored. She said those supermarkets not destroyed in the unrest had been restocked and food relief efforts are underway in badly affected areas.

She said interventions were being considered by the economic cluster to help small businesses get back on their feet, as part of efforts to help the economy recover.

To this end, Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme payments are available in certain sectors and this time round, will be paid directly to employees. Read more here.

The South African Social Security Agency is also providing distress relief vouchers. Read more here and work is underway to ensure affected pay points are operational as soon as possible.