Thread by @ewnreporter

#ShutdownSA With the number of dead in rolling violence and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal climbing to 72 overnight, the latest wave of violence has become the deadliest since the dawn of democracy.

#ShutdownSA For 6 days now, mobs have attacked malls, shops, small businesses, depots, roadside stalls and trucks, stealing whatever they can get their hands on with impunity.

#ShutdownSA The police's Brenda Muridili says many of the dead perished in stampedes, as looters surged forward, crushing them. "The greater part of the docket relate to stampedes."

#ShutdownSA Even the presence of the SANDF in some areas of Gauteng and KZN has not been enough to quell the crime wave. This is beginning to have very real effects on communities, with shortages of basic supplies already coming to the fore.

#ShutdownSA The Shell and BP South African Petroleum Refineries has issued a notice, warning that suppliers of materials critical to its operations, have suspended deliveries.

#ShutdownSA The effects will be huge, and come on the back of president Cyril Ramaphosa's warning this week that continued looting will affect food security - medicine supply and other essential services.

#ShutdownSA There are now growing calls for the government to do do more and impose a state of emergency in order to bring looters under control.

#ShutdownSA First Vice president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce Mpume Langa says KZN in particular is in dire straights: "Currently with the routes being closed, having access to food, medical care, essential services is being disrupted. There might be disruption in water."

#ShutdownSA Gauteng's trains will be resuming its service in most parts after Metrorail suspended its operations on Monday due to the violence. Management says its "comfortable the situation is now
calm to provide a normal service in the interest of fare-paying customers. "