Police in KwaZulu-Natal have moved swiftly to crush a new threat to stability in Durban, arresting the ringleader who threatened to shut down Moses Mabhida Stadium and sabotage Saturday’s blockbuster MTN8 Cup Final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The arrest on Friday comes as the city remains on a knife-edge following two days of violent anti-migrant protests that collapsed into looting, arson and running battles with police in the CBD, Point and surrounding areas.
According to a media statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner, the suspect had gathered a group at King Dinuzulu Park with the aim of staging an illegal march to the stadium to stop the final from taking place.
“Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested a man who issued threats that he and his followers will shut down Moses Mabhida Stadium to prevent the MTN8 Cup Final match between Orlando Pirates FC and Mamelodi Sundowns from taking place,” the statement read.
“The suspect had gathered a group of people at King Dinizuku Park with the aim of staging a march. Those who were with him managed to run away.”
Police sources said the man is believed to be linked to the same loose grouping of young men who hijacked last week’s anti-migrant march in Durban and turned it into a looting spree.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the arrest and warned that SAPS will not tolerate anyone who threatens to destabilise the province.
“Police are reiterating that anyone who threatens to cause instability will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Netshiunda said.
Netshiunda said the operation was part of a broader crackdown that has already netted more than 19 suspects in connection with public violence and looting in Durban this week.
“At least more than 19 of them, mostly are students, no surprise because we saw the numbers on the ground they were young people. We have arrested them for public violence, malicious damage to property and theft,” he said.
He added that police intelligence had picked up chatter on social media and WhatsApp groups about plans to disrupt the MTN8 final, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to Durban and millions of viewers nationwide.
“We cannot allow opportunistic criminals to use legitimate concerns about migration as a cover to loot, burn and threaten national events. The MTN8 Final is a national event. It will go ahead. It will be secured,” Netshiunda warned.
The MTN8 final is not just a football match – it is a test of whether the state can hold the line in Durban.
After the city was gutted during the July 2021 unrest, and again shaken this week when shops were ransacked and cars torched during what was supposed to be a march against undocumented migrants, government cannot afford another security failure on live television.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal has already requested the deployment of the SANDF, while the Presidency’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration has called an urgent media briefing for early Sunday morning to outline government’s response to the migration crisis and the violence it has triggered.
For now, police remain heavily deployed around Moses Mabhida, King Dinuzulu Park and the Durban CBD. Private security has been roped in to protect shops that are still counting losses from Thursday’s looting.
The arrested ringleader is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of incitement to commit public violence and conspiracy to disrupt a public event.
Netshiunda said more arrests are imminent.
“We are monitoring all groups. Those who were with him at King Dinuzulu managed to run away, but we know who they are. We will find them,” he said.
