Cabinet at odds over causes of violence

Presidency rebukes attempt by defence minister to downplay the planning behind attacks

In a sign of the confusion within the government over the causes of the violence that killed more than 200 people, caused billions of rand of damage and sullied the country’s reputation, the presidency rebuked the defence minister’s attempt to downplay the planned nature of the attacks.

The looting, which started about a week ago and “almost brought the country to its knees”, was an orchestrated attempt at an insurrection and anything to the contrary was not supported by law enforcement agencies, acting minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Monday.

On Sunday, defence & military veterans minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula contradicted President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling the looting just acts of thuggery.

The mayhem saw shops, warehouses, factories, pharmacies and malls stripped bare and burnt.

Attacks led to the closure of Durban’s port, the country’s most important and the closest to the economic heartland of Gauteng. The closure of the port and the busy N3 highway linking Gauteng to KwaZuluNatal threatened to disrupt the supply of medicine and risked food shortages.

Mapisa-Nqakula told parliament’s standing committee on defence on Sunday night that for the rampage to have been an insurrection or attempted coup, it would have to have had a face.

Her view, which left many baffled given the attack on infrastructure such as water reservoirs, was that it was “a counterrevolution creeping in the form of criminality and thuggery” and that she had no evidence to indicate the events “so far talk to an insurrection or a coup”.

But others in the government had indicated something more sinister was at hand, with police

minister Bheki Cele saying that the government had identified a plot to attack hospitals with patients inside.

Questioned at a briefing on Monday, Ntshavheni said the belief that it was an insurrection was informed by discussions at the national security council, which is chaired by Ramaphosa, and by briefings by military commanders, who report to Mapisa-Nqakula, and other law enforcement agencies.

There has been criticism of the tardy response by law enforcement agencies to the violence. Despite threats of violence on social media, the government was slow to respond, leaving communities to fend for themselves.

Ntshavheni said there would be a review of what happened.

“If mistakes are deliberate, there should be consequences and this case will not be different,” she said, insisting that reports that came through to the government about the events were acted on timeously.

Ntshavheni said Gauteng had completely stabilised, with businesses that were not vandalised beginning to operate again. KwaZulu-Natal was stable and no further incidents of looting had been reported.

There had, however, been three more deaths, bringing the total to 215.

Six alleged instigators had been arrested and three had appeared in court on Monday. Except for one, who was granted bail, they had been remanded for bail hearings later in the week. Charges include the incitement to commit public violence.

NTSHAVHENI INSISTED THAT REPORTS THAT CAME THROUGH TO THE GOVERNMENT WERE ACTED ON TIMEOUSLY

Further arrests would be made soon, Ntshavheni said.

In an interview with television channel eNCA earlier in the day, Cele, who was visiting looted areas in KwaZulu-Natal, said 3,400 people had so far been arrested.

Special courts had been established to fast-track cases. Police were also trying to recover stolen goods, which would be kept in police custody for use as evidence. The National Prosecuting Authority has committed itself to a “vigorous” prosecution process.

Ntshavheni said there had been no incidents on the N2 and N3, which were reopened on Friday and were still being patrolled by law enforcement agencies, including the military. The main railway line between Durban and Richards Bay was operational, as were both ports. Exports have resumed.

Looted stores in KwaZuluNatal had been replenished with food supplies from Gauteng and the ports, but Ntshavheni noted that people might have to travel to adjacent towns for food if nearby stores had been vandalised. Immediate food relief was being provided to distressed households, and the provincial department of social development was distributing food parcels and cash vouchers.

She said the economic cluster of ministers was working on plans for the return to economic activity.

Trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel said that “large retail chains have reported that supply of food and other products to SA stores and neighbouring states are largely back on track”.

CELE, WHO WAS VISITING LOOTED AREAS IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SAID 3,400 PEOPLE HAD SO FAR BEEN ARRESTED