Unrest in South Africa

Jacob Zuma is the former South African president from 2009 to 2018. His arrest has triggered intense looting, violence, and general unrest in the country. On top of this, a record of Covid-19 infections is spreading at the same time. His arrest was due to his refusing to testify about the alleged corruption in the government. This article will cover the details of the looting, violence, and the steps taken already.

Mr. Zuma’s home province is KwaZulu-Natal, and it is also the “epicentre of violence”. This is some of the worst violence the country has seen in years, and the death toll is at least 212 people. According to the South African Banking Risk Information Center, hundreds of ATM machines were broken into. This is proven by an influx of people using money stained with green coloring. As a consequence of the brutality, a massive food manufacturing company called Tiger Brands was forced to halt some sites. This company has lost almost 10 million dollars in the crisis. These are only a few examples of the abominable outcomes. The violence has wreaked havoc to roads, local buildings, factories, and more. Around 2,500 people have been arrested for instigating violence, vandalism, and stealing.

Looting is a critical issue. Theft in areas such as Durban skyrocketed, where groups of people “attacked retail areas and industrial centers where they emptied warehouses and set them alight”. People are stealing items such as food and clothing from small stores, making it more difficult for those in need to procure necessities. Some mall buildings are completely trashed, and many innocent people have died in these out-of-control mall stampedes.

"It is quite clear that all these incidents of unrest and looting were instigated - there were people who planned it and co-ordinated it," South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa claimed.

He also said that the cost of restoring all the damage will be massive, billions of dollars, because immeasurable devastation has been inflicted upon at least “161 malls and shopping centers, 11 warehouses, 8 factories and 161 liquor stores and distributors”. Leaders are vowing to catch the masterminds behind these issues. Many of these “plans” arose on social media platforms.

“The JZ [Jacob Zuma] incident was just a spark for what had been brewing over the years,” claimed Bob Mhlanga, a former intelligence officer for Mr. Zuma. “We will face another revolt if we don’t address socioeconomic issues.”.

These areas are very difficult to live in during this time. Due to the looting, too many people are struggling to obtain enough food for their families and home pets, along with proper nappies and formula for their babies. These people have had to wait during the early hours of the day, hoping for a few items to bring back. The violence and fires are unsafe, and the Covid virus is spreading quickly due to a severe lack of social distancing and vaccines. A mere 2.8% of people are fully vaccinated from Covid 19, and there are currently efforts to distribute more vaccines.

The violence and struggle is not limited only to this country - this is a difficult time for many other places such as Colombia and Sudan. The struggles of a pandemic have pushed some simmering problems over the brink, leaving many families jobless and hungry. According to the World Bank, by the end of this year at least 160 million people will have been pushed into poverty due to Covid. Another World Bank report informed that “low-income earners, many of whom are Black or members of other racial groups disadvantaged under apartheid, were nearly four times as likely to lose their jobs as high-income earners”. The World Food Program reports that the pandemic has led 41 million people to the verge of famine. Since May 2020, South Africa has lost around 1 in every 300 people from its population due to the coronavirus. Violence interrupted one site for coronavirus testing and vaccination. Clearly, the spread of the virus is yet another issue piled upon the country’s current fragile state.

Despite this, in many places there have been improvements and peace. The silence is uneasy, but it is still a sign that situations are at a higher standard. There have been attempts at restoration, and the situation will take a great deal of time to heal properly. For instance, the South African Council of Churches is allowing two weeks of reprieve where stolen goods can be brought to the police with no penalization. The reason behind this is to reinstate people’s trust in the law. Also, the police are working to attempt reopening more highways, thereby allowing food and fuel to reach more people. The highways that are already open are being patrolled by the military. Moreover, drivers are advised to stay alert and to have caution. To give another example of mending, the authorities have been arresting more suspects and replacing lost items in Johannesburg.

To sum up everything that has been stated, there is a goal for leaders to rebuild and strengthen the country. And all people, including businesses, rural community leaders, religious leaders, and regular citizens, must come together and work toward this goal. It is important to keep hope that situations will continue to improve and that the families in these places will be safe, as well as to continue being updated on the news.

Sources

• Steinhauser, Gabriele. “What Is Happening in South Africa? Riots After Jacob Zuma's Arrest.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 16 July 2021, www.wsj.com/articles/south-africa-riots-whats-happening-11626280457.

• Nyoka, Shingai. “South African Says Riots over Zuma Jailing Pre-Planned - Cyril Ramaphosa.” BBC News, BBC, 16 July 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57863558.

• “Soweto: South African City Left Devastated by Looting - CNN Video.” CNN, Cable News Network, 15 July 2021, www.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/07/15/south-africa-looting-impact-mckenzie-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn.

• Meldrum, Andrew. “Leader Backs Order in South Africa, Vows to Catch Plotters.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 16 July 2021, https://apnews.com/article/africa-south-africa-6e49fbbcc4acf9a4628c718c94afdb04.

• Steinhauser, Gabriele, and Joe Parkinson. “Third Covid Wave Upends Fragile South Africa, a Warning for Developing World.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 19 July 2021, www.wsj.com/articles/covid-pandemic-south-africa-riots-a-warning-for-developing-world-11626711622.