SOUTH AFRICA: Pro-Zuma protests snowball into looting, killings and torching of malls

By: Ollus Ndomu

Violent protests over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma have escalated into massive looting of foreign businesses including killings and torching of malls in Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal provinces.

A mall in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal province was set on fire amid looting and destruction of properties.

Images of the burning mall and the disruption caused by the protests are enjoying wide publicity on social media.

Local media reported Monday afternoon that looters outnumbered police, a development which forced the government to deploy soldiers on streets.

In his Monday night address to the nation, the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government would mobilizing every resource available to restore law and order adding that he would soon chat the way forward with opposition leaders.

The spate of violence which began as a protest against the jailing of Zuma, has escalated into widespread torching of public and private property.

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Ollus Ndhomu

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