In a show of strength, a convoy of more than a dozen armoured personnel carriers brought soldiers into Gauteng province, South Africa's most populous, which includes the largest city, Johannesburg, and the capital, Pretoria. (The Associated Press)Buses, trucks, airplanes and helicopters were also being used to move the large deployment of troops to trouble spots in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal province, which have seen violence in mainly poor areas. Protests in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal quickly escalated into a spree of theft in township areas, although it has not spread to South Africa's seven other provinces, where police are on alert. Army troops stood guard at the large Maponya mall in Soweto, which remained closed. There were renewed attacks on shopping centres and several factories and warehouses were smouldering after being hit by arson attacks.

Source: CBC News July 15, 2021 12:22 UTC