For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: KZN Premier calls for calm as death toll hits 26 in the province; Makhura says vaccination programme has slowed down; And, the SACP condemns acts of violence, calls for accountability

KZN Premier calls for calm as death toll hits 26 in the province

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has called for calm as the province battles devastating looting.

This after protests against the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma turned violent over the weekend, with looting and violence making headlines in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to parts of both provinces to assist the South African Police Service.

Zikalala reported that 26 deaths have been recorded in the province and 187 people have been arrested, so far, in connection with the ongoing looting taking place in several parts of the province.   

Makhura says vaccination programme has slowed down

In Gauteng, Premier David Makhura has warned that the Covid-19 vaccination programmes have slowed down because of widespread looting.

Makhura said the looting and violent acts will impact everything, including the province’s health services.

He said the mobility of ambulance services, as well as the provision of healthcare services, the delivery of oxygen is also affected by the blocking of the roads.

He said it is no longer the law enforcement agencies that will stop the looting.

He called on Gauteng residents, including community leaders, political parties and leaders from other sectors to stand up and condemn looting and violence.

And, the SACP condemns acts of violence, calls for accountability

The South African Communist Party is calling for those involved in acts of violence and criminality to be held to account.

The SACP said people engaging in violent acts and in the violation of the human rights of others are a tiny minority of the country’s approximately 60-million strong population, however, it stressed that the State has the duty to hold those people to account.

The SACP urged the State to protect all South Africans and people of other nationalities.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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