JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Jul 23 2021 (IPS) – Twenty-seven years after South Africa’s first democratic elections, the country finds itself reflecting on the catalysts of a week of looting and destruction of property resulting in more than 200 deaths and US$ 1.3 billion in damage.
.
Alex residents queued for hours to buy basic foodstuff after shops were looted. The unrest has caused a humanitarian crisis, as has not been seen since the dawn of democracy in South Africa. Credit: Dan Ingham
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the week-long riots earlier this month as a failed insurrection.
Immediately before the violence, former President Jacob Zuma had handed himself over to prison authorities to begin serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court for refusing to appear before the State Capture Commission. The commission is investigating widespread corruption in the country.
Violence Casts Shadow Over South Africa s Post-Apartheid Democratic Gains
ipsnews.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ipsnews.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Covid-19 pandemic exacerbates health crisis for poor people - research
news24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.