Shops were looted overnight and a section of the M2 highway was closed in Johannesburg on Sunday as violence following the jailing of the former South African president Jacob Zuma spread to the country’s main economic hub. Violence had mainly been concentrated in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where on Wednesday night he began a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. Police said some of those carrying out theft and damage were taking advantage of their anger at Zuma’s imprisonment. The Johannesburg Metropolitan police department (JMPD) said there had been looting in the Alexandra township and Jeppestown suburb. Zuma has challenged his sentence in the constitutional court, partly on the grounds of what he says is his frail health and the risk of catching Covid-19.

Source: The Guardian July 11, 2021 11:26 UTC