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2021 South African unrest

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2021 South African unrest
Date11 July 2021 – present
Location
South African Provinces of Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal
Caused by
Methods
StatusOngoing
Parties
Pro-Jacob Zuma protesters
African National Congress (pro-Zuma factions)
Looters
Casualties
Death(s)30+[7]
ArrestedAlmost 800[7]

The 2021 South Africa unrest is a series of ongoing riots and protests in the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that began on the evening of Sunday, 11 July 2021.[10] The riots began as a protest following the arrest and detainment of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who was arrested after defying to testify at the Zondo Commission, a state-backed inquiry probing allegations of corruption during his term as president from 2009 to 2018. The riots began as protests by his supporters in KwaZulu-Natal before escalating to widespread looting and violence throughout KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.[11]

Background

Jacob Zuma was charged with corruption in March 2018, mainly in connection with a R30 billion arms deal.[12] The legal battle has continued from then, during which Zuma's legal team appealed for more time to prepare and trying get the charged dismissed. During the trial proceedings Zuma has been repeatedly absent from the court citing medical reasons. The case has proceeded into the Constitutional Court.

Arrest of Jacob Zuma

The protests began on 8 July 2021, after former president Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail on 29 June 2021 for contempt of court, after he refused to appear at a government-appointed commission investigating alleged corruption during his nine years in office.[13] He was given until the end of 4 July to hand himself in, after which police would be obliged to arrest him. However on 3 July, the court agreed on to hear his application on 12 July.[14]

Supporters Jacob Zuma gathered outside his Nkandla homestead on Saturday 3 July 2021
Supporters Jacob Zuma gathered outside his Nkandla homestead on Saturday, 3 July 2021.[15]

The South African Police Service was then told to arrest him by 7 July 2021 if he refused to surrender. Supporters had gathered near his home with weapons to stop his arrest,[16] but he handed himself over to the police on 7 July,[17][18] and was jailed at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.[16]

Zuma challenged his detention on 9 July in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on grounds of health, but it was rejected.[19] His arrest led to violent protests by his supporters, who dubbed their campaign as "Free Jacob Zuma and shut down KZN", in the KwaZulu-Natal province.[20]

Following Zuma's arrest, widespread protesting began nationwide, with his supporters calling for his release.[1]

Riots and looting

The riots began on the evening of Sunday, 11 July 2021, when multiple news sources indicated reports of gunshots and explosions heard at local malls and residential areas.[21] The violence quickly escalated, and by the morning of Monday, 12 July 2021, multiple companies and malls were forced to close following widespread looting and violence[22] As of 13 July 2021, ten people have been killed in the riots.[1]

Incitement

Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, is among those who have encouraged the looting and violence in order to secure the release of her father.[23]

A Chatsworth Mall that was looted
A scene from the Ridge Shopping Centre in Shallcross, Chatsworth, which was looted the night of Sunday, 11 July 2021.[24]

State response

Initially, the South African Police Service (SAPS) was deployed in the Nkandla district to control the number of protests in the area.[25][26]

Over the weekend, as the South African Police Service (SAPS) battled to contain the large-scale looting and damage to infrastructure.[27][28] Pressure mounted on government to deploy the army.[29][30]

On the morning of Monday, 12 July 2021, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.[31][32]

On 12 July 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the riots, saying the acts of public violence has been "rarely seen" in democratic South Africa. Ramaphosa referred to the riots as opportunistic acts of violence, citing the lack grievance, nor any political cause, that can justify the destruction by the protestors. He highlighted the Constitution of South Africa, which guarantees the rights of everyone to express themselves, but stated that the victims of the violence unfolding are the workers, truck drivers, business owners, the parents of those who have lost their lives have all done nothing wrong. He went on to discuss the impact of the riots on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, stating that the rollout has been drastically disrupted after prior setbacks. He also noted how the economy of the country would face further challenges due to food and medication insecurity resulting from the riots. The deployment of SANDF to assist with ending the unrest was also discussed.[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Jacob Zuma: Six people dead in South Africa as protests escalate over jailing of former president". Sky News.
  2. ^ Cite web|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-07-13-stoking-the-flames-anc-condemns-looting-and-violence-concerned-about-tweets-from-zumas-daughter/%7Cwebsite=Daily Mavrick}}
  3. ^ "Ten dead in violent riots over jailing of South Africa's Jacob Zuma". Stuff. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  4. ^ AfricaNews (11 July 2021). "Supporters demand Zuma's release via fiery protests in KwaZulu-Natal". Africanews. Retrieved 12 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Makhafola, Getrude. "N3 in KwaZulu-Natal closed after trucks set alight in Free Zuma protests". News24. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Four killed, 96 arrested in Gauteng amid violent action, looting". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b "South Africa Zuma riots: Death toll mounts amid looting". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Jacob Zuma: Military deployed to tackle unrest over jailed ex-president". news.yahoo.com.
  9. ^ "Soldiers deployed to KZN and Gauteng | eNCA". www.enca.com.
  10. ^ "LIVE UPDATES: Looting and violence in Gauteng and KZN". www.iol.co.za.
  11. ^ "S Africa violence spreads after Jacob Zuma jailed". www.aljazeera.com.
  12. ^ "Zuma to stand trial on corruption charges relating to $2.5bn arms deal". the Guardian. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Former South African President Jacob Zuma sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court".
  14. ^ "S. Africa's top court agrees to hear Zuma challenge to jail term". aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  15. ^ Grootes, Stephen (5 July 2021). "Pre-Prison Diaries: Analysis: Defenders of Jacob Zuma's last stand: Strong devotion, deep emotion, mostly from KZN". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  16. ^ a b Sishi, Siyabonga; Dludla, Nqobile; Cocks, Tim; Wendell, Roelf; Winning, Alexander (8 July 2021). "South Africa's Zuma hands himself over to police to begin sentence". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  17. ^ "FORMER PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA HANDS HIMSELF OVER TO SERVE 15-MONTH JAIL TERM". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Jacob Zuma: Former president hands himself in to South African police". bbc.com. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  19. ^ Winning, Alexander; Roelf, Wendell; Ward, Rogan; Kumwenda-Mtambo, Olivia; Cocks, Tim (9 July 2021). "South Africa's jailed ex-leader Zuma loses bid to overturn arrest". Reuters. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  20. ^ Govender, Suthentira (9 July 2021). "Millions of rand of KZN infrastructure damaged in violent 'Free Jacob Zuma' protests". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Zuma jailed: Arrests as protests spread in South Africa". 11 July 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  22. ^ "South African military to deploy soldiers to help quell unrest". Reuters. 12 July 2021.
  23. ^ Plessis, Carien du (12 July 2021). "AGE OF ANARCHY: Stoking the flames: ANC condemns looting and violence, 'concerned' about tweets from Zuma's daughter". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  24. ^ https://www.heraldlive.co.za/authors/yasantha-naidoo. "Shots fired online, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla takes aim at president as Free Zuma campaign rages". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 12 July 2021. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  25. ^ "Jacob Zuma: Six people dead in South Africa as protests escalate over jailing of former president". Sky News. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  26. ^ Villiers, James de. "#ZumaUnrest: Was SANDF deployment necessary to curb violence? We ask three experts". News24. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  27. ^ Evans, Julia (11 July 2021). "PRISON DIARIES: Fiery Weekend: KZN unrest over Zuma's jailing spreads to Gauteng". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference businesslive1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ "South Africa deploys army to quell unrest linked to Zuma jailing". Reuters. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference autogenerated1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Ndou, Clive. "Free Jacob Zuma campaign set to intensify". Witness. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  32. ^ https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/authors/naledi-shange. "Jacob Zuma's fate to be decided: Will he stay in jail?". SowetanLIVE. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  33. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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