South Africa is burning

The worst spell of violence since the mass-scale destruction took place during the anti-apartheid protests in 1994

Widespread rioting and violent protests across South Africa, this past week, have resulted in the loss of over 200 lives and over 2,500 arrests. In what has been termed the worst spell of violence since the mass-scale destruction that took place during the anti-apartheid protests in 1994, the country saw major economic hubs like Johannesburg and Durban set alight. The protests started as a fulfilment of numerous faceless online threats in retaliation of the then impending arrest of former president Jacob Zuma. With major stakes in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), and intelligence circles, Zuma has been under trial for massive corruption during his tenure.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the events of last week as pre-planned and hinted towards Zuma supporters for the subsequent events. However, while Zuma and his cabal may still have influence in South African politics, analysts have called out the current and previous governments for their failed economic policies which are now bearing fruit in the form of this past week’s events. In 2019, South Africa had the highest rate of economic inequality in the world, and a staggering unemployment rate of over 32%. Following Nelson Mandela’s dream of an equal and free nation, the country has failed to strengthen the stature of its black population and class division on the basis of race. For now, despite making up a major chunk of the population, blacks own only 4% of land, in contrast to 72% of ownership by whites that constitute only 12% of the population.

Past week’s looting and violence has left numerous small business owners in a fix, and the country has suffered losses of billions of rands. The Covid-19 pandemic had already wreaked havoc and now the people are expressing their frustrations and helplessness. It is clear that the government has failed the people, and while Zuma’s accountability trial is much needed, Ramaphosa cannot get a clear chit because of his mis-governance and non-delivery.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2021.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.