APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) The South African government is considering slapping terrorism and treason charges on the 63 people arrested for allegedly masterminding the riots that rocked the country’s KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces two years ago, Police Minister Bheki Cele has said in Johannesburg.
Cele told journalists on the sidelines of an African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee meeting on Sunday that the state was looking into adding new charges against those arrested – some of whom have been released on bail.
According to the minister, the state was looking into amending the charge sheet from incitement of violence to terrorism and treason.
“What we are doing with the arrested, we are increasing the charges. We want to move the charges from ordinary incitement to terrorism and treason,” Cele said.
He added: “And there are many more people that are going to be arrested as well.”
Hundreds of people rioted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces in July 2021 following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma on alleged corruption charges.
The civil unrest was characterised by destruction of property, looting and loss of life in the two provinces, the police said.
Some 300 lives were lost and the scale of destruction of property was estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
NM/jn/APA