Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the South African Minister of Small Business Development, held a press conference about the Zulu riots today. She started the meeting by giving an updated death toll.
There were 79 deaths in Gauteng and 258 in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Homicide investigations have been opened for 42 deaths in Gauteng and 171 in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Police investigations have also been opened for 132 cases of arson in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The South African government is still working to identify all of the victims. Ntshavheni vowed that the South African government would hold people accountable for all deaths and bring them to justice.
Ntshavheni said four of the “key players” in organizing riots had been arrested. She went on to say that stories in the media about new rioting are “fake news.”
An estimated fifty looters were killed in a burning warehouse in the town of Umzimkhulu. It is still unclear who started the fire.
