JOHANNESBURG —
Six individuals have been killed and 219 arrested amid escalating violence throughout rioting that broke out following the imprisonment of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, police mentioned Monday.
Military troopers will probably be deployed to assist police quell the violence, the South African Nationwide Protection Pressure mentioned.
Police mentioned outlets and companies have been looted and vandalized. Site visitors has been disrupted by rioters barricading main roads with burning tires and vans, whereas vehicles have been attacked.
The violence was triggered final week when Zuma started serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court docket. He had defied a court docket order to testify earlier than a state-backed inquiry probing allegations of corruption throughout his time period as president from 2009 to 2018.
The Constitutional Court docket, the nation’s highest court docket, will hear Zuma’s enchantment towards the sentence on Monday.
The rioting by Zuma’s supporters began in his dwelling area of KwaZulu-Natal province final week and over the weekend it unfold to Gauteng province, which incorporates Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest metropolis.
The deaths — 4 in Gauteng and two in KwaZulu-Natal — seem to have been prompted within the chaos and police are investigating, mentioned police Col. Brenda Muridili. The police and nationwide safety forces have expanded their presence in each provinces to assist quell the violence, mentioned the assertion. The extent of injury to property and companies will probably be decided at a later stage, mentioned police.
Police have warned that anybody utilizing social media to encourage the rioting could also be arrested and prosecuted.