The riots were initially sparked by a protest against the imprisonment of former head of state Jacob Zuma
At least 32 people have been killed in South Africa over the past four days in riots initially sparked by a protest against the imprisonment of former head of state Jacob Zuma. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported this on Tuesday, citing local South African authorities.
For his part, KwaZulu-Natal provincial head of government Sihle Zikalala said on Tuesday that 26 people had been killed in riot-related violence in its territory since last Friday. “I appeal to all residents of the province not to get involved in violent acts,” local TV channel ENCA quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, riots continued on Tuesday in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. For instance, a shopping centre in the administrative centre of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, was set on fire in the morning. In the Johannesburg suburb of Alexandre, looters broke into the studio of a local radio station, ransacked it and took all the equipment.
Since last Friday, supporters of the imprisoned former head of state on 8 July began blocking main roads in KwaZulu-Natal province. They announced the launch of a “Freedom to Zuma” campaign to secure his speedy release and called on the people of the province to join their protests. Demonstrations have escalated into major riots everywhere. They have spilled over into the metropolitan province of Gauteng since last Saturday.
South African President Cyril Ramaposa addressed the nation on the evening of July 12 and said the country had experienced over the past few days and nights acts of public violence that were “rarely seen in the history of our democracy”. He announced that he had ordered army units to arrive at the epicentres of unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to assist the police.
