President Cyril Ramaphosa has called the recent unrest a failed insurrection, but his Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has contradicted this saying it was neither a coup nor an insurrection leading to much confusion.

The Defend our Democracy campaign led by African National Congress (ANC) veterans and business leaders said that there was more to the unrest than met the eye and ordinary poor people were used as a smokescreen.

King MisuZulu kaZwelithini said the looting and destruction of property will come back to hurt communities. He's appealed to rioters to end the mayhem and for peace to be restored.

The monarch made the appeal during a national address on Wednesday in the wake of the ongoing unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The Independent Community Pharmacy Association’s CEO Jackie Maimin said that the looting was not isolated and 47 of their member pharmacies have been completely looted, including corporate sites like Clicks and Dis-Chem.

NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said directors of public prosecutions in affected divisions have been advised to prioritise these matters, and to refer the cases to prosecutors with the requisite experience who must work with and guide police in their investigations.

Security cluster ministers have also commended law enforcement for averting what they claim could have been a worse situation.

Ministers in the cluster gave an update on Tuesday on the state’s response to the ongoing looting in Gauteng and KZN.

Former President Jacob Zuma has served five days of a 15-month sentence so far for contempt of court for snubbing the state capture commission after being ordered to give evidence by the court.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing Jacob Zuma, has argued at length on the reasons why his client should be released from jail.

Zuma wants the Constitutional Court to rescind his 15-month sentence, it slapped on him earlier this month.

Members of the subcommittee shortlisting seven members to fill vacancies on the NYDA board met on Wednesday. They also want board members to be evenly spread across all provinces.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi said they have now applied to the health department to make NPA staff and prosecutors essential services so they can get vaccinated.

The Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Tuesday briefed Parliament's finance watchdog Scopa about investigations into SOEs and private sector corruption.

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu told the media on Monday that government was working with its back against the wall as it tries to reach an agreement with unions.

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu said that his department was working with its back against a wall and he hoped that government and labour could find one another when they meet on Tuesday.

The state capture commission of inquiry and the State have slammed former President Jacob Zuma in their answering affidavit to his application to stay his arrest.

Julius Malema said the current regulations and the pandemic meant the local government elections planned for October would not be free and fair.