Makhura on Tuesday morning said he had already spoken to the Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Elias Mawela for steps to be taken to end the violence and looting that have engulfed the province in the past few days.
“I will not hesitate to ask for further reinforcement from the SANDF, should the police need such support. Several meetings will also be held with various stakeholders to calm down the situation across Gauteng,” Makhura said.
On Monday police were deployed in various parts of Gauteng, as looting and vandalism spread across the province, targeting foreign owned shops. Makhura condemned the violence, describing it as ‘criminality’.
“I condemn in the strongest of terms all acts of criminality and lawlessness that brought some areas of our province to a standstill due to the looting of shops and torching of buildings as well as the closure of some roads. We live in a law-governed society and any act of criminality shall be dealt with decisively and swiftly, regardless of nationality,” Makhura said.
On Tuesday, police were already deployed on hotspots where the looting and damage property have occurred in the past. Residents in Alexandra, in the North of Johannesburg woke up to heavy police presence, as authorities anticipate more violence.
Amongst the areas that have been affected Pretoria CBD, Joburg CBD, Malvern, Germiston and Turfontein.
Image SLM (Unrest, criminality, looting and mayhem in both Jhb and Pretoria CBDs has the country reeling in shock and dismay).
Meanwhile, a 6-year old Amy –Lee de Jager has been re-united with family, unharmed though she was taken for medical observation.
The Grade R learner who was kidnapped in front of Laerskool Kollegepark in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, at around 07:40 on Monday, was reunited with her parents in the early hours of Tuesday morning- reports Karabo Moloi.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the investigation into Amy-Lee’s disappearance and sudden reappearance was still ongoing.
“It is our appeal that this investigation be allowed to take its course.”
Initially the kidnappers demanded a ransom of R2m.
