First published Oct 29, 2026, 8:17:15 AM UTC · Last updated Oct 29, 2026, 8:17:15 AM UTC

Violence and looting in eThekwini 'cannot be tolerated' - President Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said government was increasing safety efforts in eThekwini after looting and vandalism of small businesses and the killing of a foreign national. He authorised 510 South African National Defence Force members to support law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal.

At a glance

Affected location: eThekwini

Illustrative image: From 20 to 23 November 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, went to Johannesburg, in South Africa, to participate in the G20 Summit. She's here pictured with Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa. — Dati Bendo / European Union, 2025 / EC - Audiovisual Service/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

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Why it matters

The reported incidents prompted a government security response in KwaZulu-Natal.

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Impact magnitude: 3/10The scale or severity of the real-world impact, from minor (1) to extreme (10).
Urgency: 4/10How time-sensitive the event is, from low urgency (1) to immediate attention needed (10).

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SAnews South African News Violence and looting in eThekwini 'cannot be tolerated' - President Ramaphosa

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