Ramaphosa visits KwaZulu-Natal as violence eases

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday it was clear that the unrest that has roiled South Africa in the past week had been instigated and his government would not allow “anarchy, mayhem” to prevail.

Ramaphosa made the remarks when he visited Ethikwini Municipality, which includes the port city Durban, one of the worst-hit areas in a week of looting that destroyed hundreds of businesses and killed more than 100 people.

He also said he was concerned about rising racial tensions in some parts of the country.

Some companies are working to restart operations after days of looting and arson that destroyed hundreds of businesses and left more than 100 people dead.

Calm was returning in parts of the main commercial city Johannesburg, even though most shops remain closed.

State logistics group Transnet said operations at the ports of Durban and Richards Bay, which had been hit by the unrest, were improving even though road closures and fuel and food shortages were constraining its supply chain.

“The Port of Richards Bay has managed to clear all shipping backlogs. Terminal operations at the Port of Durban continue to improve,” Transnet said.

Unrest

The rioting broke out in several parts of the country following the jailing of Zuma last week for his failure to appear at a corruption inquiry.

It swiftly degenerated into looting and destruction, driven by widespread anger over the poverty and inequality that persist nearly three decades after Apartheid ended.

The military called up all its reservists to bolster army and police who have struggled to contain the unrest, with the number of troops to be deployed doubling to 10,000 since Wednesday.

But pockets of unrest remain, with eNCA television reporting that a business park was torched overnight in Isipingo, a town south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

The government said on Thursday the death toll had risen to 91 deaths in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s home province where his support is greatest, and stood at 26 in Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg, making a total of 117 killed so far.