Police in KwaZulu Natal are on high alert as there are growing threats of looting at Massmart stores over the weekend meaning Saturday, and Sunday (February 26 and 27). Members of crime intelligence have been tasked with finding out if the threats are real.
The threats emanate from messages which were circulating on social media on Wednesday evening which claimed that there will be civil unrest and looting of all the big Massmart stores. The stores listed to be among the targets are Game, Rhine, Builder’s Warehouse, Makro, Jumbo Cash & Carry and other affiliated stores.
Thembeka Mbele, KZN police spokesperson, said threats which police are informed about are all taken seriously, and police will be deployed if any of the threats are acted on. “Unfortunately, we cannot comment on internal communication between departments in SAPS and other security forces, and we once again request members of the public to refrain from posting such documents as such could compromise operations of security forces,” Mbele said.
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In July 2021 KwaZulu Natal saw an unrest like no other after the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma for being in contempt of court. Jacob Zuma followers threatened to retaliate after their leader was incarcerated. On the 9th of July, 23 vehicles were torched along the N3 highway.
Mass looting took place in stores across KZN and in Gauteng townships. More than 300 people lost their lives during the unrest while the country suffered a loss of R30 billion in damages.
Source: Times Live, IOL, image from IOL
