South Africa is burning, but is it a spontaneous outbreak or an insurrection?

  • 📰 IOL
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 80 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 35%
  • Publisher: 51%

South Africa Headlines News

OPINION: Corruption thrives in a destabilised state with weak institutions. South Africa cannot be allowed back to that space because there will be no turning back, writes David Everatt.

South Africans spent most of mid-July glued to their news outlets, from established media outlets to TikTok, from streaming news to old-fashioned printed words, to see just one thing: would Jacob Zuma blink? Would the country finally get some taste of revenge for the state capture, looting, destruction of institutions and threats to the country’s democracy their former president had enabled and championed? Would the rule of law...

Protests that had been low key since he was arrested on Wednesday night exploded into an an orgy of looting, marching, xenophobic attacks, arson, truck-burning, stabbing and shooting, and blockading of roads and freeways by Sunday. It seemed – and Zuma’s allies and children were quick to preach the word – that he was so popular and such an object of sympathy that a spontaneous outbreak of bloody violence and theft was unavoidable, and a dark portent if Zuma was not immediately released.

He met his match in Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, who succeeded him as ANC and national president. Ramaphosa has moved with the cold, calculating methodology that proves him to be the real chess master . Ramaphosa has outmanoeuvred Zuma and many of his allies in the ANC . He has done this by trying to resuscitate the organs of state, investigation and prosecution that had been severely damaged by his predecessor.

All of these have some truth. Yet none provides a narrative thread that ties together these disparate issues and scattered but clearly organised acts of violence. Part of the gap in our understanding is how a middle-of-the-night incarceration for Zuma – albeit done in the blaze of TV arc lights – led to such a widespread and destructive but apparently spontaneous outbreak.

When “impeccable sources in the intelligence service and law enforcement” warned of arms caches at Zuma’s home, Nkandla; when we recall that the police admitted to “losing” some 20 000 weapons in the 2000s, as had the State Security Agency, we are permitted to ask uncomfortable questions.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Criminals at work broh!

Words alone won’t express how thankful I’m recommending you all to you ambrey_marcus .....,investing with you has been a good opportunity for me and my family I just received my profit of R30,500 within five days of investment ambrey_marcus

Words alone won’t express how thankful I’m recommending you all to you LouiseConway86.....,investing with you has been a good opportunity for me and my family I just received my profit of R88,500 within seven days of investment LouiseConway86

'Pan Africa Mall' looting is the peoples' version of 'state capture'. Like priest like people (The chickens have come home to roost).

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 46. in ZA

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Africa responds to looting in South AfricaResidents from other African countries have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the looting and violence taking place in South Africa. I thought their countries needs their thoughts more than we do. But thanks brothers and sisters for keeping us in your thoughts. SA IN CHAOS. LAW AND ORDER NON EXISTENT IN KZN AND SOME PARTS OF JOBURG. SOS Hope they know that they will also starve if they loot
Source: IOL - 🏆 46. / 51 Read more »

CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL UPDATE: US cases swell; South Africa reports 16,302 new casesSouth Africa registered 16,302 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the cumulative total to 2,195,599. A further 151 Covid-19-related deaths were reported, taking total deaths to 64,289. A total of 4,236,718 people have been vaccinated.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

South Africa remains under Covid-19 alert level four, with minor changes - The Mail & GuardianAs the Delta variant fuels infections, the ban on alcohol sales remains, schools will stay closed until 26 July and restaurants may open with limited numbers You can’t give up because no one believes in what you do. The person who should have the utmost believe in what you do is yourself. I am who I am today all because of the help of this wonderful human Lindastouffe Hambani niyofa until Zuma is free nothing matters .... Lockdown or no lockdown Ramsphosa will fall by his sword But looting and blatant disregard for the curfew laws are ok and not policed as a few surfers, joggers, and having a drink in your back yard we’re when this lockdown thing started.
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »

Makhosi Khoza | Ramaphosa is playing the fiddle while South Africa burns | News24OPINION | While the decision to deploy the military to Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal is correct, it is unclear why President Cyril Ramaphosa took so long to act, writes Dr_MakhosiKhoza
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

Botswana issues South Africa travel alert due to violence, lootingBotswana has urged its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to parts of neighbouring South Africa, particularly in KZN and Gauteng, due to ongoing Violence . IOLTravel looting Travel Botswana way more advanced and civilized than the people here that's for sure Travel I owe you an apology to ever doubt your sincerity and professionalism. It’s was just like a dream to me when I received my first payment. After my second payment it became a reality now after several payments it has become a way of life. tyron_robert7 Travel It cuts deep when our neighbours are telling their citizens to avoid us.
Source: IOL - 🏆 46. / 51 Read more »

LIVE PROTEST UPDATES: Looting puts South Africa on edgeWidespread protests and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal now risk spilling over to other provinces.
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »