By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that cases have been withdrawn against two instigators behind the rampant looting and violent unrest the country witnessed in July 2021.
Cele returned to the witness stand at the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) investigative hearings into the July riots on Monday, where he revealed that 19 alleged instigators had been arrested, however, two of the cases were dropped.
Amid the unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng last year, government initially suggested that 12 instigators were behind the “well-orchestrated economic sabotage” that left more than 300 people dead.
The minister explained to the SAHRC that he first received information on the 12 instigators from a member of the public.
“I have a phone number that is on the internet so anybody has my number. It irritates, but it helps because you really do get things that you would not if your number wasn’t known.
I did receive [some information]. Somebody came to brief me, especially on the names of the people who were pushing this on the internet. There were very familiar names… I think there would be four [people] that were very familiar,” Cele said.
Cele also pointed out that the information of the instigators was not shared with national police commissioner General Khehla Sitole.
Livestream Video Below:
Video Courtesy of SAHRC.