Acting Police Minister Feroz Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi are expected to meet eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba on Friday morning following a night of public violence in Durban’s Central Business District (CBD).
The unrest on Thursday night left 14 vehicles torched and several buildings set alight.
KwaZulu-Natal police say no arrests have been made in connection with the public violence, although three foreign nationals have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a participant in a march through the city.
Provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed that investigations into the violence are ongoing, with officers working to identify those responsible for the damage to property.
“We haven’t arrested anybody for public violence or any other crime; we have only arrested three foreign nationals who were arrested for the assault of a protester,” Netshiunda said.
He added that intelligence investigators were working to track down those responsible for setting vehicles and buildings alight.
“We are working hard on the ground with our intelligence investigators to ensure that those who burnt the vehicles and property are uncovered, found and arrested because we cannot have crime committed and nobody is arrested,” he said.
The violence reportedly erupted after foreign nationals allegedly assaulted one of the participants in a march through the city.
Netshiunda said the situation remained calm on Friday morning, with no further incidents of violence reported.
However, police remain on high alert, with officers maintaining a visible presence in several parts of the CBD.
“We are still maintaining presence in various parts of the CBD, mostly because that’s where Chris was yesterday (Thursday). We are ready; if anything happens today, we’ve got enough numbers,” Netshiunda said.
The planned meeting between Cachalia, Mkhwanazi and Xaba is expected to take place against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the unrest and concerns over public safety in the city.