South Africa's Week of Insurrection, Crime Against the State, Instability and Massive Destruction of Economic Infrastructure

SOUTH AFRICA - In Brief 17 Jul 2021 by Iraj Abedian

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What began as an unexpected outbreak of violence and looting at the beginning of this week is now officially classified as "a failed insurrection", coordinated by a network of political leaders and their associates in the national security structures of the country. On the face of it, the outbreak of riots and violence were branded as a grassroots uprising in support of x-President Zuma who was imprisoned last week Wednesday. The organizers used the social media and other communication platforms to profile the riots as the much promised response of the supporters of Zuma. However as the events unfolded, it became more and more clear that this was no ordinary riots and looting. The intentional destruction of economic infrastructure and the well orchestrated disruption and damage to the domestic and foreign trade routes pointed to an unusual and unprecedented "protest, riots and looting". The epicenter of the riots and looting was the Province of KwaZulu Natal (KZN)- the home base of President Zuma. The other affected province was Gauteng- South Africa's main economic hub. A week later, the nation has registered 212 deaths of which 180 were in KZN, the rest in Gauteng. And over 2000 individuals arrested and imprisoned. Last night, President Ramaphosa finally addressed the nation, having visited the KZN during the day and his walk-about within the affected communities there. The President's message was sobering and yet calming. He acknowledged that his government agencies were not well-prepared for the events. And, they took their time to coordinate the activities and involvement of the police, the army and the other security structures. He informed the nations that the g...