JOHANNESBURG, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A total of 26 people have been killed during violent protests and looting in KwaZulu-Natal Province, said Premier Sihle Zikalala Tuesday during a briefing about the developing situation in the province after the ongoing unrest.
"The latest fatalities confirmed by the security cluster in KwaZulu-Natal as of this morning stands at 26. These were people that were killed during stampedes as protesters ran riot in areas including Umlazi, KwaMashu, Inanda, Phoenix, uMgungundlovu and northern KwaZulu-Natal. As of last night, law-enforcement agencies had arrested 187 suspects," said Zikalala.
Protests have prevented healthcare workers from going to work, some stopped vehicles from delivering oxygen that was intended for use by patients battling COVID-19 and other ailments. Several vaccination and healthcare centers were closed in Durban, he said.
The premier warned the protests have affected the economy including small businesses.
"The sectors severely impacted include the freight and the retail industries. However, other sectors were not spared. Many companies had to suspend their operations due to the inability to transport its material and stock. These incidents have the potential to dampen investor confidence and also derail our economic recovery efforts. The social costs of the damage might come in the form of increased unemployment and poverty in years to come," he added. Enditem