At least 32 people have been killed in the ongoing violence in South Africa over the imprisonment of former South Africa President Jacob Zuma.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, told a media conference that in the province alone 26 people have been killed in the ongoing violence. Further, six deaths were also confirmed in Gauteng province.
“Yesterday’s events brought a lot of sadness. The number of people who have died in KwaZulu-Natal alone stands at 26. Many of them died from being trampled on during a stampede while people were looting items,” he said.
The violence which started in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma’s home province, spread to Gauteng province on Sunday with many shops looted and several people injured.
The South African military had announced their plans to deploy soldiers in the two provinces to assist law enforcement agencies in their effort to quell the unrest.
Shopping malls in Johannesburg as well as shops in the township areas have been looted.
Former President Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court following his refusal to appear before a graft panel.
Zuma had defied an order by the Constitutional Court of South Africa in January to appear at an inquiry into allegations of corruption in which he is alleged to have been involved.
He was tried for his alleged involvement in a $5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s’ when he was the Vice President.
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