Cele urges communities not to take law into own hands
He said that the communities should not engage in a racial war but come together and fight criminality.
Police minister Bheki Cele has called for communities to work with police officers to fight off looters.
On Monday evening, some malls in Mamelodi were looted and set alight by a violent mob.
In some areas, residents were seen coming together to fend off protesters.
Cele said communities needed to protect their property but to do so by working with law enforcement agencies on the ground.
“While the intervention of some communities to actively stop the mass lootings has been commended, we encourage communities not to take the law into their own hands and continue to work with the police,” he said.
“We have already engaged the leadership of private security companies, in an effort to increase better working relations with the police.”
He said that the communities should not engage in a racial war, but come together and fight criminality.
Earlier on Tuesday, Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the situation was not declared a state of emergency, yet.
“Yes, the situation looks like it’s out of hand, yes, people are in a state of panic, but whether it is correct to declare a state of emergency – we do not think so.”
Thus far, police have arrested 453 people in Gauteng.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says there are between 10 to 12 names police are looking at, of people who are inciting violence on social media, "including the people who you have mentioned by name (Duduzile Zuma) they will not be sparred". pic.twitter.com/SYPoPjC6Xn
— Bulelani Phillip (@BulelaniPhillip) July 13, 2021
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
