The net could well be closing in on the ‘riot ringleaders’, after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that they government had identified the masterminds.
Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in KZN, almost a week after large scale riots broke out in the province. The President told the media on Friday that those seeking to destabilise South Africa ‘have so far failed’ – and he has a comprehensive message for the people believed to be behind this billion-rand looting spree.
Who are the riot ringleaders?
President Ramaphosa revealed that ‘the instigators HAVE been identified’, hinting that most, if not all of the 12 people believed to have organised these violent protests are now known to the government. One was arrested on Thursday, but their identity has been kept under wraps for the time being. Cyril, however, has promised a swift course of justice
President @CyrilRamaphosa is conducting an oversight in KwaZulu-Natal, to assess the impact of recent public violence and the deployment of security forces. #CleanUpSA
— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) July 16, 2021
Ramaphosa says instigators ‘have failed’
Whether Ramaphosa’s actions will match his rhetoric remains to be seen. However, the head of state did reserve some praise for communities and local leaders who successfully ‘defended their areas’ against the looters. Although people were discouraged from fighting ‘fire with fire’, many ordinary citizens were able to resist the riots in non-violent fashion
“It is quite clear that these incidences were instigated and they were people who planned them. We have identified the instigators for these incidences. We will not allow anarchy and mayhem to unfold in our country. It is so unfortunate that so much damage has been done and people have lost their lives.”
“The instigators want to spread unrest in the country. We don’t know what their true intentions are, but they have failed. We welcome that ordinary citizens are working together with security forces to defend their areas, assets, and democracy itself. They can see that this is an assault on the democratic situation in our country.”
The South African
