10 killed in Soweto stampede as violent protests and looting continue

Dennis TJuly 13, 2021

87 1 minute read

Gauteng premier David Makhura is calling for peace and calm following a deadly stampede that claimed the lives of 10 people in Ndofaya Mall in Soweto.

The provincial death toll as a result of violent protests and looting of businesses has risen to 19, he said.

Makhura rushed to Meadowlands in Soweto following a public outcry and calls for help to contain the situation.

“It is extremely sad. Looting is not a solution. We are losing lives. We cannot afford this. We are calling for calm, we are calling for peace,” Makhura said.

“This is destroying everything we had been building. The progress we had made in the township economy is being reversed by this looting, destruction and shutting down. The looting has to stop.”

The premier admitted law enforcement officials had been over-stretched in containing widespread looting. He called on community members to assist law enforcement officials.

Protests and looting continued on Tuesday despite the deployment of soldiers in some areas.

“We are calling for people to take charge. This cannot continue to happen in our areas.”

The premier said shops were being targeted, including many owned by foreign nationals.

Makhura said of the 19 people killed, one was a metro police officer. He said part of the violence was systematically organised by people who wanted to create harm.

“We will get to them. We will put them behind bars,” he said.

“We want communities to work with us, to arrest these people, to calm the situation and make sure the criminal element does not take over.”

-TL

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