As the City of Johannesburg deals with the recent death of Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo it is calling for calm among residents.

Protests against the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma turned violent over the weekend, with looting and violence making headlines in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The South African National Defence Force has been dispatched to assist the South African Police Service as it battles to contain looting.

The City has condemned what it calls “acts of lawlessness” in various parts of the Johannesburg.

City of Johannesburg council speaker Nonceba Molwele said the City strongly condemned the acts of violence, destruction of property and infrastructure in the City.

“I want to commend the law enforcement agencies both the South African Police Services and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department for their efforts and commitment in coordinating their response to address the acts of lawlessness unfolding in our City and safeguarding the well-being of all our citizens,” she said.

She reminded residents that the municipality and the country are still in the midst of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, with the fast-spreading Delta variant putting unimaginable strain on the limited resources.