JOHANNESBURG — South African rioters blocked roads, looted shops and burned vehicles on Tuesday in several areas of the country’s capital, Pretoria, in a show of anger over the selection of the ruling party’s mayoral candidate ahead of local elections.
The violence raised concerns about security ahead of the Aug. 3 elections in South Africa, where periodic unrest over the lack of basic municipal services already stretches police in many poor communities.
In the past year, violence and vandalism have also hit some universities and other schools as students protest high fees and voice other grievances.
Rioters stoned some emergency vehicles, and ambulances were unable to reach sick patients in some areas, reported the African News Agency, a South Africa media outlet.
Some residents said they had not been adequately consulted over the selection of Thoko Didiza, a former Cabinet minister from the coastal city of Durban, as mayoral candidate for the African National Congress in local elections.
Additionally, the ruling party has been under strain because of corruption allegations against President Jacob Zuma, who was instructed by the Constitutional Court to reimburse the state for a portion of more than $20 million in state spending on his private home.
