Pretoria – At least 87 protestors were arrested for public violence-related offences linked to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national shutdown protests.
Law enforcement officers through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) said Monday that “in the last 12 hours arrested 87 protestors across the country for public violence related offences”.
The Natjoints together with the respective Provjoints have been monitoring the situation closely to prevent and combat any acts of lawlessness and criminality.
Of the 87 protestors arrested, 41 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in North West, 15 in Free State.
There were also arrests in other provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.
Thousands of used tyres that were placed in places, where they were to be later set alight by protestors, were recovered by the police.
“At least 24 300 tyres have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies. These were tyres that were strategically placed for acts of criminality,” said NATJOINTS.
“Six thousand [tyres] were seized in the Western Cape, 4 500 in the Free State, 3 600 in Gauteng, 1 513 in the Eastern Cape and a few in other provinces.”
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, NATJOINTS spokesperson said: “Law enforcement officers are on high alert and will continue to prevent and combat any acts of criminality, maintain public order, protect the inhabitants of South Africa and their property as well as uphold and enforce the law”.
