A team of detectives investigating the recent unrest in Phoenix in KwaZulu Natal is fast making progress in pinning down the perpetrators of the violence which led to the death of 36 people.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says 30 people were shot, two were burnt to death, one was stabbed, two died from assault wounds while another was killed when a car drove over him.
The team has already arrested 22 suspects who will face charges of murder and attempted murder, malicious damage to property and defeating the ends of Justice.
Cele said they were also investigating the role of private security firms in the violence and seized 152 firearms from four security companies operating in the area.
He says a further 112 illegal firearms were also seized.
The firearms were confiscated in partnership with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
He said they would also look into the response of the local police to these events.
All suspects are currently going through the court processes with some appearing in court for the first time on Tuesday.
"I want to be very clear about this, what happened in Phoenix were criminal acts of the worst kind which also took a racial turn. These acts have no place in our society and the perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted," said Cele.
