The Presidency says the deadly riots in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal last week could cost the country about R 50-billion in lost output.

The Presidency earlier cited estimates from the South African Property Owners Association.

About 200 malls were targeted and some 3-thousand shops were looted during the protests, while 200 banks and post offices were vandalized.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape MEC for community safety Albert Fritz has lauded the co-operation of everyone here, to prevent the public violence from spilling over to the Western Cape.