South Africans riot after arrest of former president Zuma

 

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: Government officials said Tuesday that they were working to contain the violence and prevent its spreading, following two days of rioting.

"No amount of unhappiness or personal circumstances from our people gives the right to anyone to loot, vandalize and do as they please and break the law," Police Minister Bheki Cele said at a news conference.

The violence was triggered by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, as his supporters took to the streets last week.

Shops have been ransacked, malls demolished, cars set on fire and major roads blocked, stopping all public transport in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal and in Johannesburg.

In June, South Africa's Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison after he refused to testify at a government-mandated commission investigating allegations of widespread corruption during his nine years in power.

He was arrested on Wednesday after refusing to surrender himself to police.

South African troops were reported to be moving into the areas where rioting has centered, as outnumbered police seemed unable to prevent attacks and looting fn businesses in Zuma's home province KwaZulu-Natal and in Gauteng province, where Johannesburg is located.

Thus far, some 30 people have been killed during the unrest, according to authorities.

Shops, petrol stations and government buildings have been closed due to the violence. Looters carried off items, ranging from beer and foodstuffs to household appliances, footage showed, and at least one shopping mall was completely destroyed.

Protesters have been seen throwing stones at police, who responded with rubber bullets, Reuters reports.

In Durban, shops were looted as there was no sign of police, according to witnesses.

Media reports revealed that 757 people have been arrested. He added that people would not be allowed "to make a mockery of our democratic state".

Meanwhile, reports say unemployment in South Africa has reached a new record high of 32.6 percent in the first three months of 2021.