DURBAN - POLICE Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that police are on high alert over threats of unrest allegedly planned for August 23.
Cele’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said: “The police minister has received assurance from the SAPS, from national and the province, that ground forces remain on high alert for all eventualities.”
The ministry was responding to reports on posters doing the rounds on social media, claiming that there would be a shutdown on August 23.
Premier Sihle Zikalala also weighed in on the matter during a media briefing at the weekend.
He said that while they would not be distracted by fake news, they were also not taking anything for granted.
“We have reported this to law enforcement agencies and we believe they are ready for that.”
Zikalala assured the people of KZN that there would be no such shutdown.
“We want to further assure them and guarantee their safety; police and other law enforcement agencies will be all over to protect them.”
He added that August 23 was a normal working day.
Cele expressed his concerns about fake news being circulated on social media. This was during his recent visit to Phoenix and the surrounding settlements of Bhambayi, Amaoti and Zwelisha.
Social media lies were fuelling tension and pitting communities against one another, Cele said.
“Some people should answer about social media. They are responsible for pouring petrol on the matter.
“One day, I was woken up at night and told that Phoenix was being attacked from all fronts, including KwaMashu hostel. There were videos shared on social media.
“I asked Provincial Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to personally go there and we found that there was no such.”
Cele stressed the need to report incidents to the police, so that cases could be confirmed, failing which they would turn into social media lies.
“Recently, I received information that a nurse was attacked at Palmview circle, a few days ago. Then I asked the person who was telling me to give me the contact details of the nurse. The person said they did not have it, because they had heard this info from someone. I said okay, give me that someone’s contacts.”
Asked what was being done about the “social media lies”, Themba said the Police Ministry was not in a position to comment on the details of an ongoing investigation.
“As you know, there is a team of investigators in Phoenix to look into what exactly transpired there and bring all the perpetrators to book.
“The Police Ministry has thrown its weight behind this team and is confident it will answer the many questions around the deaths that took place in the area in July,” Themba said.
The July week-long unrest resulted in multibillion-rand damages, with residents unable to get essential items during that week. Hundreds of people lost their lives, and a state of emergency was declared for the province.
The eThekwini Municipality’s economic development and planning committee estimated that about R1.5 billion was lost in stock, there was a R15 billion loss to property, and more than 50 000 informal traders lost their livelihoods.
Daily News