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Violence in South Africa: an uprising of elites, not of the people

Violence in South Africa: an uprising of elites, not of the people

FROM time to time, South Africa is rudely reminded that its past continues to make its present and future difficult. It does not always recognise this reality when it sees it. STEVEN FRIEDMAN, Professor of Political Studies, University of Johannesburg The latest – and most shocking – reminder is the violence which followed the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. The mayhem devastated KwaZulu-Natal, the home of Zuma and his faction of the governing African National Congress (ANC), and damaged Gauteng, the economic heartland which also houses hostels in which working migrants from KwaZulu-Natal live. The violence was seen as…
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Death toll in South Africa riots rises to 337

Death toll in South Africa riots rises to 337

THE death toll from recent riots in South Africa has risen to 337, with 258 people killed in KwaZulu-Natal and 79 in Gauteng, the two provinces where the violence was concentrated. The new figures were announced by Khumbuzo Ntshaveni, the acting Minister in the Presidency, at a media briefing. The death toll was revised up from the 276 that was announced on Wednesday. The unrest started as protests over former president Jacob Zuma's jailing two weeks ago in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. But it quickly escalated into arson and looting and spread to Gauteng province where the biggest city…
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