South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said during a visit to Durban that the outbreak of violence in two provinces of his country had been planned according to a preconceived plan. He described the riots, looting and arson over the past week as an attack on democracy and said those who led the ringleaders will be brought to justice.
Riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces have left 212 dead. Most of the victims were trampled during the large-scale looting of shops, police said. The disturbances followed the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. He must serve a 15-month sentence for obstructing justice. Zuma refused to cooperate in a criminal investigation into corruption while he was running the country.
A suspect caught
Standing in front of a looted shopping center in Durban, President Ramaphosa said police know who is responsible for the instigation of the violence. One suspect would have been detained, others are being watched, he said. 25,000 troops have been deployed in the two provinces to restore order. In Gauteng, which also includes Johannesburg, there is now a tense calm.
In Kwazulu-Natal, the homeland of Jacob Zuma, an estimated 850 million euros worth of goods has been stolen from shops and warehouses. Military and police are now protecting shipments of food and medicine.
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