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3 December 2021
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says she cannot recall Cabinet discussing whether the July unrest was an in fact an insurrection.
She testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigative hearings into the unrest.
“I doubt or I don’t recall that we went to that level. When the incident happened, others were in portfolio committees and there were urgent meetings, as cabinet we really tried to apply our minds on what could have been the root cause,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
At the time she was the minister of communications.
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says she cannot recall Cabinet discussing whether the July unrest was an in fact an insurrection.
She testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigative hearings into the unrest.
“I doubt or I don’t recall that we went to that level. When the incident happened, others were in portfolio committees and there were urgent meetings, as cabinet we really tried to apply our minds on what could have been the root cause,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
At the time she was the minister of communications.
03 December 2021
Police minister Bheki Cele could not have provided “executive direction” during the July unrest and looting because he did not receive any intelligence reports from national commissioner Lt-Gen Khehla Sitole or crime intelligence.
Cele made this assertion in an affidavit he will present to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday afternoon.
“As stated, pertaining to the violence mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for the period leading up to the outbreak and from the time the violence broke out to the time it was brought under control, I did not receive an intelligence report from either the national commissioner or the divisional commissioner: crime intelligence,” Cele’s affidavit reads.
Police minister Bheki Cele could not have provided “executive direction” during the July unrest and looting because he did not receive any intelligence reports from national commissioner Lt-Gen Khehla Sitole or crime intelligence.
Cele made this assertion in an affidavit he will present to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Friday afternoon.
“As stated, pertaining to the violence mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for the period leading up to the outbreak and from the time the violence broke out to the time it was brought under control, I did not receive an intelligence report from either the national commissioner or the divisional commissioner: crime intelligence,” Cele’s affidavit reads.
3 December 2021
DURBAN - A CONSULTANT to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) inquiry into the July unrest yesterday that social media played a major part in encouraging the looting.
David Bruce, an independent researcher and consultant at the ISS, said social media posts had encouraged unlawful behaviour during the July unrest.
DURBAN - A CONSULTANT to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), told the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) inquiry into the July unrest yesterday that social media played a major part in encouraging the looting.
David Bruce, an independent researcher and consultant at the ISS, said social media posts had encouraged unlawful behaviour during the July unrest.
3 December 2021
DURBAN - David Bruce of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) told the South African Human Rights Commission that the police response to the July unrest was perceived to be not vigorous enough and they did not take it seriously.
The SAHRC’s national investigative hearing heard testimony from survivors, various community members, as well as industry players in commerce and private security.
DURBAN - David Bruce of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) told the South African Human Rights Commission that the police response to the July unrest was perceived to be not vigorous enough and they did not take it seriously.
The SAHRC’s national investigative hearing heard testimony from survivors, various community members, as well as industry players in commerce and private security.
2 December 2021
DURBAN - Police Minister Bheki Cele will testify at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearing in Umhlanga on Friday, which is investigating the July unrest.
This week, National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole took the stand.
DURBAN - Police Minister Bheki Cele will testify at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearing in Umhlanga on Friday, which is investigating the July unrest.
This week, National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole took the stand.
27 November 2021
Zikalala is testifying at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)'s hearings probing the July riots.
Zikalala is testifying at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)'s hearings probing the July riots.
‘They still have to tell us who was orchestrating the violence’
26 November 2021
Gauteng premier David Makhura said on Friday the response by the police to the unrest that gripped Gauteng in July was inadequate.
“I have no doubt the police were running around, but their response was not adequate,” Makhura said at the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearings on Friday.
“The police still have to tell us who was orchestrating the violence.”
26 November 2021
Gauteng premier David Makhura said on Friday the response by the police to the unrest that gripped Gauteng in July was inadequate.
“I have no doubt the police were running around, but their response was not adequate,” Makhura said at the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearings on Friday.
“The police still have to tell us who was orchestrating the violence.”
26 November 2021
Giving testimony, Sihle Zikalala said the state relied on social media and mainstream media reports in order to comprehend the scale of looting and unrest in the province. He also pointed to the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma as being the catalyst for the mass anarchy.
Giving testimony, Sihle Zikalala said the state relied on social media and mainstream media reports in order to comprehend the scale of looting and unrest in the province. He also pointed to the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma as being the catalyst for the mass anarchy.
25 November 2021
DURBAN - No responses from a number of State officials to appear before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has led to the commission issuing subpoenas for them to appear before the panel.
The SAHRC commenced its National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. The commission began hearing from witnesses from Monday, November 15, 2021.
DURBAN - No responses from a number of State officials to appear before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has led to the commission issuing subpoenas for them to appear before the panel.
The SAHRC commenced its National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 Unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. The commission began hearing from witnesses from Monday, November 15, 2021.
25 November 2021
Former security company boss Glen Naidoo has told the SA Human Rights Commission that when he called for Phoenix community members to barricade roads to keep looters out in July he “expected everybody to do so legally”.
Former security company boss Glen Naidoo has told the SA Human Rights Commission that when he called for Phoenix community members to barricade roads to keep looters out in July he “expected everybody to do so legally”.
25 November 2021
Former security company boss Glen Naidoo has told the SA Human Rights Commission that when he called for Phoenix community members to barricade roads to keep looters out in July he “expected everybody to do so legally”.
Testifying at the commission's hearing into the July riots and looting in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, Naidoo, founder of KZN VIP Protection Services, denied his call for barricades played a role in racial profiling and killing of black people in Phoenix.
Former security company boss Glen Naidoo has told the SA Human Rights Commission that when he called for Phoenix community members to barricade roads to keep looters out in July he “expected everybody to do so legally”.
Testifying at the commission's hearing into the July riots and looting in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, Naidoo, founder of KZN VIP Protection Services, denied his call for barricades played a role in racial profiling and killing of black people in Phoenix.
18 November 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Thursday, 18 November heard how police in Pietermaritzburg were allegedly ordered to stand down and not respond as widespread looting and the destruction of infrastructure continued relentlessly during the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Thursday, 18 November heard how police in Pietermaritzburg were allegedly ordered to stand down and not respond as widespread looting and the destruction of infrastructure continued relentlessly during the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
18 November 2021
Thursday’s witness was Melanie Veness, who is the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business.
She has been describing what lay around her as she walked through Barnsley Road in Pietermaritzburg to assess the damage caused to businesses following looting and violence in July.
Thursday’s witness was Melanie Veness, who is the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business.
She has been describing what lay around her as she walked through Barnsley Road in Pietermaritzburg to assess the damage caused to businesses following looting and violence in July.
18 November 2021
Chris Biyela narrowly escaped an attack by a group of suspected vigilantes and he gave testimony about his experience on Tuesday. Biyela believes that there needs to be government intervention for those affected.
Chris Biyela narrowly escaped an attack by a group of suspected vigilantes and he gave testimony about his experience on Tuesday. Biyela believes that there needs to be government intervention for those affected.
17 November 2021
Accounts of racial tension, assaults and killings of Africans, allegedly at the hands of Indian people in Phoenix, were aired during day 2 of the investigative hearing by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into the July civil unrest.
The hearing in Durban is looking at the causes of the civil unrest which claimed 36 lives in Phoenix, north of Durban.
Bhambayi resident Chris Biyela told the commission on Tuesday that he narrowly escaped the wrath of an angry group of Indian people while driving through Phoenix.
Accounts of racial tension, assaults and killings of Africans, allegedly at the hands of Indian people in Phoenix, were aired during day 2 of the investigative hearing by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into the July civil unrest.
The hearing in Durban is looking at the causes of the civil unrest which claimed 36 lives in Phoenix, north of Durban.
Bhambayi resident Chris Biyela told the commission on Tuesday that he narrowly escaped the wrath of an angry group of Indian people while driving through Phoenix.
17 November 2021
The hearing continues on Tuesday morning, with more witnesses set to testify, including from community members from Zwelitsha, Amawoti, Bambai and Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal.
The hearing continues on Tuesday morning, with more witnesses set to testify, including from community members from Zwelitsha, Amawoti, Bambai and Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal.
16 November 2021
Residents from an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg have told the South African Human Rights Commission what hurt them during the unrest was the absence of law enforcement personnel.
Residents from an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg have told the South African Human Rights Commission what hurt them during the unrest was the absence of law enforcement personnel.
15 November 2021
An investigative hearing into the unrest and looting which swept across KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng between July 8 and 19 begins on Monday, led by a panel of commissioners from the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
An investigative hearing into the unrest and looting which swept across KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng between July 8 and 19 begins on Monday, led by a panel of commissioners from the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
15 November 2021
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says the Phoenix attacks during the July unrest will be one of the key areas of focus of its hearing.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says the Phoenix attacks during the July unrest will be one of the key areas of focus of its hearing.
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The Human Rights Commission is the national institution established to support constitutional democracy. It is committed to promote respect for, observance of and protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour.
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