Status: 07/16/2021 12:47 p.m.
Even a week after the unrest broke out in South Africa, the country is still not calm. 117 people are said to have died so far. As the violence never ends, food and medicine are now running short.
Around a week after the unrest broke out in South Africa, the violence continues. 117 people have been killed so far, around 1,500 were arrested in the affected provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, according to the government news agency.
For several days there has been looting and violence in various places in South Africa, sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. The 79-year-old was sentenced to 15 months in prison a week ago for disregarding justice.
President Ramaphosa condemns “anarchy and chaos”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a visit to the particularly affected port city of Durban that it was clear that the unrest had been instigated. His government will not allow “anarchy and chaos” to rule. He was also concerned about increasing racist tensions in some parts of the country.
The government mobilized a total of 30,000 soldiers to end the violent protests and looting. It is one of the largest military operations in the history of a democratic South Africa. The government sent the military to the metropolitan areas around the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria after the police were outnumbered by the looters there.
Food and medication are becoming scarce
Because of the unrest, supply bottlenecks are worsening in the affected provinces. One problem is the blocking of important transport routes, warned consumer organizations. Even the flour for the bakeries is becoming scarce. Refinery closures in Durban resulted in long lines in front of the few open gas stations. The government warned against buying hamsters and temporarily banned the purchase of gasoline in cans.
According to information from the dairy organization SAMPRO, farmers have to destroy their milk because it cannot be transported from the stables. According to previously unconfirmed media reports, some farms have been looted. Because drug stores and clinics have also been robbed in KwaZulu-Natal, drugs are also in short supply.