People pelt stones at police as they attempt a robbery at the Letsoho shopping center in Katalhong, east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Riots triggered by the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma escalated on Monday as shopping malls were looted in Johannesburg, tyres were torched, major roads were blocked and police and military struggled to contain violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed in a gloomy address to the nation on Monday night that the police and military would restore order, and called on all South Africans to work together for peace.
Unrest erupted in KwaZulu-Natal province last week after Zuma was jailed for contempt of court. What started as a fairly small blockade of roads in Zuma’s home region intensified and spread to Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province, including the country’s largest city, Johannesburg.
People run for cover as a police officer fires rubber bullets while attempting a robbery at the Letsoho shopping center in Katalhong, east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The South African National Defense Force has been deployed to assist the police.
“In the history of our democracy, at least 10 people have been killed and more than 490 arrested in acts of public violence,” Ramaphosa said.
Without mentioning Zuma once, Ramaphosa said that “violence may actually have its roots in the declarations and activities of individuals with a political purpose, and in expressions of frustration and anger … However, what we are seeing now They are opportunistic acts of criminality, with groups of people only inciting anarchy as a cover for looting and theft.”
He said the root cause of the riots is South Africa’s high rate of poverty and unemployment.
“This moment has already brought us great relief: the level of unemployment, poverty and inequality in our society is unsustainable,” Ramaphosa said. “We cannot expect a lasting and sustainable peace if we do not create jobs and build a more just and equitable society in which all South Africans can participate freely and equally.”
He urged all South Africans to abstain from violence.
“Together we will defeat those who want to destabilize our country,” he said. “We will stand as one people, united against violence, united in our commitment to peace and the rule of law.”
Earlier on Monday, looting of retail centers began in several poorer areas of Johannesburg, including Benmore, Jamestown, Voslaus and Soweto, where Jabulani and Dobsonville malls were affected.
Retail stores in Alexandra, east of Johannesburg, were also affected, and journalists covering the riots for the public South African Broadcasting Corporation and news channel Newsroom Africa were looted of their equipment.
People carrying groceries loot at the Letsoho shopping center in Katalhong, east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Many malls, car dealerships and retail centers in more affluent areas of Johannesburg, including Rosebank and Kempton Park in eastern Johannesburg, closed early, even though they were not directly threatened.
In KwaZulu-Natal, people took equipment including microwave ovens, television sets and clothing from shops in the Marienhill and Umlazi areas.
The violence began last week when Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. He defied a court order to testify before a state-backed inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption during his term as president from 2009 to 2018.
The country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, began hearing Zuma’s appeal on Monday.
Police are investigating these deaths – four in Gauteng and two in KwaZulu-Natal, Police Colonel Brenda Muridilli said. Officials said police and national security forces have increased their presence in both provinces to help prevent violence.
Police have warned that anyone using social media to incite riots could be arrested and prosecuted. Analysts said the way political protests against Zuma’s prisoner turned into widespread riots and looting exposed South Africa’s widespread poverty, unemployment and economic inequality.
Susan Boysen, director of research at the Mapungbwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, said many of the rioters were just poor.
A woman carrying groceries on her head walks past a damaged KFC fast food restaurant at the Naldi shopping complex in Vosloorus, east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
“It’s such a mixed bag because some other people are just taking advantage of them to grab things they couldn’t have before,” Boysen said.
“There is poverty and inequality. We also know that some criminals are looking for profit. Often legitimate opposition is exploited for that purpose,” she said.
Ralph Mathekga, a researcher at the University of the Western Cape, agreed that political demonstrations have been outdone.
“South Africa is a very complex nation, and (when) there are protest actions, there is no doubt that they will be used opportunistically by criminal elements,” Mathekga told the News24 website.
“We have to recognize the socio-economic condition of the country. Almost a majority of the country is unemployed,” said Mathekga. “Protest action without some form of criminality is very rare in South Africa.”
Read also: Former South African President Jacob Zuma sentenced to 15 months for contempt
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