The South African government on Monday deployed military to quell violence that erupted in two provinces, including its economic hub of Johannesburg, following the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, reported Reuters.
Zuma began a 15-month sentence last Wednesday after the country’s top court found him guilty of contempt of court because he refused to return to the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture probing allegations of corruption during his term as president from 2009 to 2018.
“The South African National Defence Force has commenced with pre-deployment processes and procedures in line with a request for assistance received … to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces respectively to quell the unrest that has gripped both Provinces in the last few days,” South African military said in a statement on Monday.
The move comes as the Constitutional Court, the country’s top court, started hearing a challenge on Monday by the former president against his sentence. The protests began in Zuma’s home region of KwaZulu-Natal province last week when he handed himself to the police. The protests soon spread to Gauteng province, including Johannesburg, over the weekend.
A number of shops and businesses have been looted and vandalised during rioting that broke out after Zuma’s arrest. So far, six people have lost their lives and over 200 people have been arrested.
Addressing the nation on Monday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the security forces will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute all those instigating chaos merely as a cover for looting and theft.
He warned that the looting of shopping centres, pharmacies and disruption to supply chains could lead to food and medicine shortages in the coming weeks, and disruption to the ongoing coronavirus vaccination campaign in the country. He appealed to all South Africans to refrain from violence and work together for peace.
