South Africa unrest prompts fears of food and fuel shortages
72 people died, more than 1,200 people arrested
By AFP - Jul 15,2021 - Last updated at Jul 15,2021
Members of the South Africa Defence Force stand guard with an armoured vehicle outside the Chris Hanni Mall in Vosloorus, on the northern outskirts of Johannesburg, on Wednesday (AFP photo)
JOHANNESBURG Unrest raged in South Africa on Wednesday for the sixth day running, stoking fears of food and fuel shortages as disruption to farming, manufacturing and oil refining began to bite.
Seventy-two people have died and more than 1,200 people have been arrested, according to official figures, since former president Jacob Zuma began a 15-month jail term, sparking protests that swiftly turned violent.
South Africa seeks to deploy 25,000 troops to curb unrest theguardian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theguardian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
She did not say when the extra troops would be on the streets.
Members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) hold stolen items retrieved during a raid after six days of looting in South-Africa left scores of dead and battered the economy, in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, on July 14, 2021. (Phill Magakoe / AFP)
Government had been under pressure to increase boots on the ground to quickly put a lid on the violence pummeling an already struggling economy.
The country’s consumer goods regulatory body estimated that more than 800 retail shops had been looted. Advertisement
President Cyril Ramaphosa met leaders of political parties and cautioned that parts of the country “may soon be running short of basic provisions following the extensive disruption of food, fuel and medicine supply chains.”
South Africa seeks to deploy 25,000 troops to curb ongoing unrest france24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from france24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.