The 2021 South African unrest, also known as the July 2021 riots,
the Zuma unrest
or Zuma riots,
was a wave of civil unrest that occurred in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
's
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...
and
Gauteng
Gauteng ( , ; Sotho-Tswana languages, Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; or ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts f ...
provinces from 9 to 18 July 2021, sparked by the imprisonment of former President
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was a for ...
for
contempt of court
Contempt of court, often referred to simply as "contempt", is the crime of being disobedient to or disrespectful toward a court of law and its officers in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the co ...
.
Resulting protests against the incarceration triggered wider rioting and looting, much of it said to be undertaken by people not in support of Zuma and fuelled by
job layoffs and economic inequality worsened by the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
policies. The unrest began in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...
on the evening of 9 July,
[ and spread to the province of ]Gauteng
Gauteng ( , ; Sotho-Tswana languages, Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; or ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts f ...
on the evening of 11 July, and was the worst violence that South Africa had experienced since the end of Apartheid.
Zuma was taken into custody after declining to testify at the Zondo Commission
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, better known as the Zondo Commission or State Capture Commission, was a public inquiry established in Ja ...
, an inquiry into allegations of corruption during his term as president from 2009 to 2018. The Constitutional Court
A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e. whether they conflict with constitutionally established ru ...
reserved judgment on Zuma's application to rescind his sentence on 12 July 2021. The South African government reported that 354 people had died in the riots. As of 12 August 2022, 5,500 people had been arrested, in connection with the unrest.
Background
Economy
More than half of South Africa's population lives in poverty, with an unemployment rate of 32%. According to the World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
, income inequality
In economics, income distribution covers how a country's total GDP is distributed amongst its population. Economic theory and economic policy have long seen income and its distribution as a central concern. Unequal distribution of income causes ...
has increased since 1994 in South Africa, rendering it one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Jacob Zuma's legal battle
Former South African president Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan names Nxamalala and Msholozi. Zuma was a for ...
was charged with corruption in March 2018, in connection with the South African Arms Deal
The Strategic Defence Package, popularly known as the Arms Deal, was a major defence procurement programme undertaken to re-equip the South African armed forces for the post-apartheid era. It is commonly associated with the large-scale corruptio ...
, known as the "Strategic Defence Package" worth R30 billion (equal to US$2.5 billion or £2 billion). The legal battle has continued since, with Zuma's legal team attempting to have the charges dismissed and appealing for more time to prepare. During the trial proceedings, Zuma was repeatedly absent from the court, citing medical reasons and lack of funds.
Imprisonment of Jacob Zuma
On 29 June 2021, Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court, after he refused to appear at a commission his government appointed to investigate alleged corruption during his time in office, and engaged in what the judges characterised as a "politically motivated smear campaign" against the country's judiciary. The case ultimately proceeded to the Constitutional Court
A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e. whether they conflict with constitutionally established ru ...
. He was given until the end of 4 July to hand himself in, after which the South African Police Service
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the Provinces of South Africa, provincial borders, and a Provincial Commis ...
would be obliged to arrest him. On 3 July, the court agreed to hear his application on 12 July. If Zuma refused to surrender by 4 July, the police were given until 7 July to arrest him. Supporters had gathered near his home with weapons to prevent his arrest but he handed himself over to the police on 7 July, and was jailed at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.
On 8 July 2021, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola announced that Zuma would be eligible for parole upon serving a quarter of his 15-month sentence. Zuma challenged his detention on 9 July in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on the grounds of health but this was rejected. His imprisonment led to violent protests by his supporters in KwaZulu-Natal, which quickly developed into widespread looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Civil disorder
Riots and looting
On 9 July 2021, the same day Pietermaritzburg High Court upheld his conviction and prison sentence, the unrest began. Public violence, burglary, and malicious damage to property were reported in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with at least 28 people being arrested and a highway being blocked. The riots continued on the evening of 11 July, when multiple news sources indicated reports of gunshots and explosions heard at local malls and residential areas.
The violence quickly escalated, and by the morning of 12 July, multiple companies and malls were forced to close following widespread looting and violence. An incident occurred at Southgate Spar, a supermarket near a township in Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg (; ) is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa after Durban. It was named in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. The town was named in Zulu after King ...
, as an unnamed 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest with a rubber bullet fired by police in the midst of the unrest and later succumbed to his wounds. The incident played a part in escalating the unrest.
354 people died due to the unrest according to the South African government, while 5,500 were arrested by 12 August 2022. In KwaZula-Natal, 2,763 people had been arrested by 24 July 2021.
Racial tensions
In the Indian-majority township of Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal
Phoenix is a South African town about 25 kilometres (15 mi) northwest of Durban Central, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established as a town by the apartheid government in 1979, but it has a long history of Indian occupation. It is ...
, some of the residents had armed themselves to fight off looters, due to the absence of police forces. This in turn stoked racial tensions between black and Indian South African
Indian South Africans are South Africans who descend from indentured labourers and free migrants who arrived from British India during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The majority live in and around the city of Durban, making it one of the la ...
citizens, with several racially motivated attacks reported to have taken place. India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar raised the issue of the safety of people of Indian origin with the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
The minister of international relations and cooperation is the foreign minister of the South African government, with political responsibility for South Africa's foreign relations and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. ...
Naledi Pandor
Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor (née Matthews; born 7 December 1953) is a South African politician, educator and academic who served as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 until 2024. She also served as a Parliament o ...
, who assured him that the government was trying its best to restore law and order.
Police Minister Bheki Cele stated that the main motive behind the Phoenix riots was criminal and that racial issues were secondary. He confirmed that 20 people had died in the town in the unrest. He also warned people against falling for fake news
Fake news or information disorder is false or misleading information (misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, and hoaxes) claiming the aesthetics and legitimacy of news. Fake news often has the aim of damaging the reputation of a person ...
designed to increase racial tensions. An investigation by the ''Daily Maverick
''Daily Maverick'' is an independent, South African, English language, online news publication and weekly print newspaper, with offices in the country's two most populous cities: Cape Town (the site of its headquarters) and Johannesburg.
...
'' newspaper found that vigilantes in Phoenix and surrounding areas had targeted suspected looters and even ordinary civilians, committing brutal acts on them. Then- KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala stated that 38 people had been killed by vigilantes in Phoenix, Inanda and Verulam. Racial tensions in the area, it was discovered, were stoked by false rumours of a massacre of between 350 and 500 black people, allegedly by Indians in Phoenix. The newspaper also reported that some incidents of murders of both black people and Indians under investigation were believed by the police to have credible evidence of racial motivations. These incidents of violence were linked by some commentators to memories of the Durban riots in 1949.
On 3 August, Cele stated that the rioting in Phoenix did have a partially racial nature. He explained that on 12 July, some residents had set up roadblocks and started patrolling the streets after rioting in Durban. Some of the vigilantes had started racially profiling people, mainly black people, and restricting their entry. When one truck containing looted items was stopped, the four occupants, who were black citizens, fired at the vigilantes, who shot back and killed one of them. Cele stated that the police believes this led to further violence between the different communities. Many vehicles were stopped and looted at the roadblocks, while the passengers were also assaulted.
Incidents of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign truck drivers and foreigners were also reported during the unrest.
Incitement
Police Minister Bheki Cele stated that the security cluster was looking at ten to twelve people who were fueling the riots through social media. According to State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo
Ayanda Dlodlo (born 22 May 1963) is a South African politician and former cabinet minister. A former member of UMkhonto we Sizwe, Umkhonto we Sizwe, she became a Member of Parliament of South Africa, Parliament for the African National Congress ...
, they are investigating information as to whether senior former agents in the intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, Intelligence analysis, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy obj ...
and senior ANC members aligned to former president Jacob Zuma are responsible for igniting the recent violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Jacob Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, is allegedly among those who encouraged the looting and violence in order to secure the release of her father as an unverified Twitter account under her name encouraged people to protest.
State response
Initially, the South African Police Service
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the Provinces of South Africa, provincial borders, and a Provincial Commis ...
(SAPS) was deployed in the Nkandla district to control the number of protests in the area.
Over the weekend, as the South African Police Service
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1,154 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the Provinces of South Africa, provincial borders, and a Provincial Commis ...
(SAPS) battled to contain the large-scale looting and damage to infrastructure, pressure mounted on government to deploy the army.
On the morning of Monday, 12 July 2021, the South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The Chief of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Minister of ...
(SANDF) was deployed in Gauteng
Gauteng ( , ; Sotho-Tswana languages, Sotho-Tswana for 'place of gold'; or ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa.
Situated on the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Although Gauteng accounts f ...
and KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...
, as part of Operation Prosper.
On 12 July 2021, president Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician serving as the 5th and current President of South Africa since 2018. A former Anti-Apartheid Movement, anti-apartheid activist and trade union leade ...
addressed the riots, saying that the acts of public violence have been "rarely seen" in democratic South Africa. Ramaphosa referred to the riots as opportunistic acts of violence, citing the lack of grievance, nor any political cause, that can justify the destruction by the protestors. He highlighted the Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, it sets out the human rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of t ...
, which guarantees the rights of everyone to express themselves, but stated that the victims of the violence unfolding are the workers, truck drivers, business owners, and the parents of those who have died and have all done nothing wrong. He went on to discuss the impact of the riots on the COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
vaccine rollout, stating that it has been drastically disrupted after prior setbacks. He also noted how the economy of the country would face further challenges due to food and medication insecurity resulting from the riots. The deployment of SANDF to assist with ending the unrest was also discussed by him.
On the same day, the Constitutional Court of South Africa
The Constitutional Court of South Africa is the supreme constitutional court established by the Constitution of South Africa, and is the apex court in the South African judicial system, with general jurisdiction.
The Court was first establ ...
reserved its previous judgment and rejected Zuma's bid to rescind his prison sentence. As a result of the decision, Zuma is required to remain imprisoned.
On 14 July 2021, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
The minister of defence and military veterans (formerly the minister of defence) is a minister in the Government of South Africa
The Government of South Africa, or South African Government, is the national government of the Republic of Sou ...
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula (; born 13 November 1956) is a South African politician of the African National Congress (ANC). She was a Cabinet of South Africa, cabinet minister from 2004 to 2021 and the Speaker of the National Assembly of ...
said that the SANDF had increased the deployed number of troops to 25,000.
Following the unrest, President Ramaphosa announced on 18 July that the government would explore introducing a basic income grant.
Public response
As a result of the state response failing to quell the unrest, private security companies
A private security company is a business entity which provides armed or unarmed security services and expertise to clients in the private or public sectors.
Overview
Private security companies are defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic ...
, taxi drivers, armed civilians and vigilante groups had taken on law enforcement duties by protecting businesses and communities from rioting and looting. Petrol stations, shopping malls, supermarkets and communication infrastructure were guarded by some members of the public, often with the support of business owners and corporations. Vigilante groups protecting suburbs and businesses worked in an organised manner to arrest looters and to hand them over to authorities, albeit in an often violent manner.
Impact
Effects on logistical networks
Roads
Road closures on both the N3 and N2 have affected the transportation of goods from the east coast into provinces in the north. This affects the transportation of goods to landlocked countries in Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
including Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the sou ...
, Zimbabwe
file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
and Zambia
Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa. It is typically referred to being in South-Central Africa or Southern Africa. It is bor ...
.
Multiple logistics and fuel companies declared forced temporary closure of their operations in KZN, citing fears of continued looting, hijackings, truck burnings, and social unrest that could further impact business operations, adding to more costs sustained from the looting and damage to property. During the riots there were reports of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign truck drivers along the N3.
The unrest coincided with the worst of the violence during the 2021 Cape Town taxi conflict which was believed to be unrelated to the events in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Container ports
The container ports of Richards Bay
Richards Bay () is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, which makes it one of the country's largest harbours. Richards Bay also has the deepest natural harbour on the Africa ...
and Durban have ceased operations. Containers in the port of Durban have been plundered. After several attacks on trucks, the N3 Highway, which links port Durban with Johannesburg, was closed on 10 July.
The unrest coincided with the Transnet ransomware attack that also contributed to shutting down the Durban container port. The ransomware attack is believed to have been unrelated to the unrest.
Rail
State-owned logistics operator Transnet
Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. It was formed as a limited company on 1 April 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department ...
declared force majeure
In contract law, force majeure ( ; ) is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, ...
on 14 July on a rail line linking Johannesburg to the coast.
Supply chain disruptions
Food shortages
On 12 July 2021, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa warned that widespread looting, destruction and closures would lead to food shortages across the country. By 14 July 2021, damage to transport infrastructure had caused food shortages, leading to queues outside grocery stores, and prevented harvesting and distribution of fresh produce. On 15 July 2021, the largest food manufacturer in South Africa, Tiger Brands
Tiger Brands Limited () is a South African packaged goods company. In addition to the company's South African operations, Tiger Brands has direct and indirect interests in international food businesses in Chile, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, K ...
, suspended bakery operations in affected areas due to damaged infrastructure and facilities while also noting that it had suffered a loss of stock in excess of R150 million. Some stores and petrol stations in Johannesburg noted that their shelves were getting emptied and supplies were dwindling due to panic buying. A Durban journalist noted that while bread had returned to their area, people were paying significantly more for it and were queueing for many hours at a time. Stores were also placing limits on how much customers could buy while community-run barricades reportedly turned people away if they could not prove they were from those communities.
Fuel shortages
The Sapref oil refinery, which is a joint venture between Shell
Shell may refer to:
Architecture and design
* Shell (structure), a thin structure
** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses
Science Biology
* Seashell, a hard outer layer of a marine ani ...
and BP, is the largest oil refinery in Sub Saharan Africa. It supplies approximately one third of South Africa's fuel needs and its operations were suspended due to a declaration of force majeure
In contract law, force majeure ( ; ) is a common clause in contracts which essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance beyond the control of the parties, such as a war, strike, riot, ...
. On 15 July 2021, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy placed prohibitions on the citizens' ability to buy fuel in portable containers and canisters, citing concerns that stockpiling would exacerbate the situation.
Medical supply shortages
Clicks and Dis-Chem, the two largest pharmaceutical retailers in South Africa, reported supply disruptions due to looting. The provision of clinical medicine to hospitals was also disrupted. As of 16 July, it has been estimated that approximately 50% of patients with chronic illness in KwaZulu-Natal lack an adequate supply of necessary medicine. Healthcare providing facilities in Pietermaritzburg were placed under severe pressure due to many members of staff being unable to get to their posts, while those that did get there had to deal with an influx of trauma patients. A junior doctor from Pietermaritzburg said that the disruptions in the supply chain resulted in an inability to restock medication, PPE, blood, and syringes.
Financial
Economic
The South African rand weakened as much as 2% on 12 July, the most it has since 25 February. Based on a preliminary analysis on 13 July, the South African Special Risks Insurance Association (SASRIA) estimated that total losses due to damage and looting may run into "billions of rand". In September 2021 it stated that the nationwide insurance claims could range between R20—25 billion, making it the most expensive riot in the world.
On 19 July 2021, officers of the eThekwini municipality and KwaZulu-Natal provincial government provided a recovery roadmap to the Toyota Motor Corporation
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
. Reportedly, the unrest had led the multinational to doubt the security and viability of its investments in the province.
Initial estimates by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) on 13 July put the loss to the GDP
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performance o ...
of Durban
Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Situated on the east coast of South ...
in excess of R20 billion. Then-acting Minister in the Presidency
The minister in the presidency is a Minister (government), minister in the Cabinet of South Africa, appointed by the President of South Africa. The minister has general responsibility for portfolios in the President of South Africa, Office of th ...
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Khumbudzo Phophi Silence Ntshavheni (born 30 January 1977) is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister in the Presidency since March 2023. She was formerly the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies from 2021 ...
cited SAPOA estimates on 20 July to say that the unrest could cost a loss of R50 billion ($3.4 billion) to South Africa's national economy. The damage to KwaZulu-Natal's economy alone was estimated to be R20 billion ($1.4 billion) according to Ntshavheni. 40,000 businesses and 50,000 traders were affected overall in KwaZulu-Natal, while stock worth R1.5 billion was lost and 150,000 jobs were stated to be at risk.
A survey carried out by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality () is a metropolitan municipality (South Africa), metropolitan municipality, created in 2000, that includes the city of Durban and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 Districts of South Africa, di ...
and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2022 however estimated the losses in Durban alone to be R70 billion (equivalent to US$4.89 billion). This included R40 billion worth of sales and stock, R20 billion worth of machinery and equipment, and damage worth R15 billion to property. The survey further stated that 9,500 jobs were placed at risk and 16,000 business were affected.
A July 2021 preliminary report meanwhile estimated losses suffered by the province of Gauteng at R3.5 billion, according to the province's then-Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of govern ...
David Makhura. He also added that 14,500 jobs were estimated to have been lost and 30 shopping malls were looted. Although no factories were affected in the riots, small-scale businesses were significantly affected.
Destruction of property
By Monday afternoon on 12 July, more than 200 shopping centre
A shopping center in American English, shopping centre in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English (see American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, spelling differences), shopping complex, shopping arcade, ...
s had been looted, with several in Soweto having been ransacked. On 14 July, the SA Pharmacy Council noted that 90 pharmacies were completely destroyed with the bulk of those in KwaZulu-Natal being hit the hardest. In Durban, during a 14 July media briefing, the mayor of eThekwini announced that up to 45,000 businesses were affected with 129,000 jobs at stake and over R16 billion (nearly $1 billion or £793 million) in damages to stock, property, and equipment.
ICASA
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is an independent regulatory body of the South African government, established in 2000 by the ICASA Act to regulate both the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in the publ ...
announced that 113 network towers had been vandalised, resulting in the disruption of cellular network
A cellular network or mobile network is a telecommunications network where the link to and from end nodes is wireless network, wireless and the network is distributed over land areas called ''cells'', each served by at least one fixed-locatio ...
s. The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) is a professional organisation of teachers in South Africa. It is headquartered in Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
History
The union was founded in 1991 as a federation ...
decried the looting and vandalism of 32 KwaZulu-Natal schools, one of which burned down, as contemptible. In Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
uMnambithi (formerly Ladysmith until 2024) is a town in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It lies north-west of Durban and south-east of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textiles, and ty ...
, a crematorium
A crematorium, crematory or cremation center is a venue for the cremation of the Death, dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a ...
was completely destroyed.
According to Ntshavheni, 161 shopping malls, 11 warehouses and eight factories in KwaZulu-Natal suffered significant damages. More than 200 shopping centres suffered looting or damage according to her, while 100 malls were subject to arson attacks, 161 liquor outlets and distributors were damaged, 1,400 ATMs and 90 pharmacies were damaged and about 300 banks and post offices were vandalized.
Suspension of services
Many of South Africa's banks had to shut down their ATMs, branches, and other facilities in response to the unrest. Over 300 Capitec Bank
Capitec Bank is a South African retail bank and financial services company. As of February 2024 the bank was the largest retail bank in South Africa, based on number of customers, with 120,000 customers opening new accounts per month.
Overview ...
branches and ATMs were closed, Nedbank
Nedbank Group is a financial services group in South Africa offering wholesale and retail banking services as well as insurance, asset management, and wealth management. Nedbank Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nedbank Group.
Headquarter ...
closed 226 branches as well as 59 Boxer outlets, ABSA Bank closed approximately 375 branches, and Standard Bank
Standard Bank (officially Standard Bank Group Limited) is the largest bank in Africa, as well as the continent's biggest lender by assets.
The company's corporate headquarters, Standard Bank Centre, is located in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The ...
had to close 81 branches in KwaZulu-Natal and 116 in Gauteng after 33 of their branches and 220 ATMs were affected. In Pietermaritzburg, ambulances and other medical staff feared being attacked and were unwilling to go into dangerous areas, and in some cases they were not able to get to emergencies.
COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccine rollout crisis
Following the impact of the looting and destruction to property, multiple COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
vaccine rollout sites were closed to prevent looting and property destruction. These precautions slowed the vaccination roll-out while the country was still battling its third wave of infection. The SA Pharmacy Council's Vincent Tlala said that COVID-19 vaccines were among the looted items from pharmacies that were affected.
On 15 July 2021, the World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...
's Africa director Matshidiso Moeti
Matshidiso Rebecca Natalie Moeti is a physician, public health specialist and medical administrator from Botswana who served as Regional Director of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), headquartered in Brazzaville, ...
warned that South Africa would see an increase in cases due to the disruptions across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. She also noted that while the vaccination programme was aiming for 300,000 vaccines a day before the unrest unfolded, they had only done under 154,000 on 14 July. A junior doctor from Pietermaritzburg mentioned that they were running out of PPE for their Covid wards in the midst of the third wave.
Superspreader event
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and Risk factor (epidemiology), determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent dise ...
Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim cautioned that the ongoing riots could be a superspreader
A superspreading event (SSEV) is an event in which an infectious disease is spread much more than usual, while an unusually contagious organism infected with a disease is known as a superspreader. In the context of a human-borne illness, a super ...
due to large numbers of people gathering in small and confined places.
Effect on pending legislation
At the time that the unrest took place, the Parliament of South Africa
The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa is South Africa's legislature. It is located in Cape Town; the country's legislative capital city, capital.
Under the present Constitution of South Africa, the bicameralism, bicameral Parliamen ...
was considering a Firearms Control Amendment Bill, which would have amended firearm regulations in South Africa to remove self-defence as a legal ground for gun ownership by civilians. Various civil society organisations, from the South African Institute of Race Relations
The South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) is a research and policy organisation in South Africa. The IRR was founded in 1929 to improve and report upon race relations in South Africa between the politically dominant White South Africa ...
and the Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa to SA Gun Owners Association and Free State Agriculture, and political parties like the Democratic Alliance, believed that the bill would fail to pass constitutional muster and had to be rejected as the unrest had highlighted the necessity of an armed citizenry in a country where the state's security forces were unable to provide protection and law and order.
Reactions
Domestic
*The ANC Veterans' League's president Snuki Zikalala denounced the violence and looting that took place while he voiced support and approval for the deployment of the SANDF to reinforce the SAPS.
*ActionSA
ActionSA is a political party in South Africa established in 2020 by Herman Mashaba, a former mayor of Johannesburg, shortly after he left the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The party states that it has been established to "set South Africa free fr ...
leader Herman Mashaba announced a separate class action
A class action is a form of lawsuit.
Class Action may also refer to:
* ''Class Action'' (film), 1991, starring Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
* Class Action (band), a garage house band
* "Class Action" (''Teenage Robot''), a 2002 e ...
lawsuit to be laid against the government and the ANC for failing to take swift action against the riots and looting. Mashaba said that "we believe that there is more than sufficient jurisprudence that merits this a strong test case, and assists us in holding the government to account for its willful failure to ensure proper law enforcement and the protection of lives, livelihoods and property".
*Opposition party leader John Steenhuisen
John Henry Steenhuisen ( ; born 25 March 1976) is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Agriculture (South Africa), Minister of Agriculture since July 2024. He has been the leader of the Democratic Alliance (South Af ...
of the Democratic Alliance announced that the party would be laying criminal charges against Jacob Zuma's children, Duduzane Zuma
Duduzane Zuma (born 20 May 1982) is the son of the former president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma.
Biography
Zuma came to prominence between 2007 and 2009 when his father became the president of the African National Congress and later the Presi ...
and Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, for allegedly inciting the violence and looting.
*On 15 July 2021, Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini, reigning King of the Zulu nation, issued a statement calling for calm and a return to order.
*The leader of Freedom Front Plus
The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus or FF+; , ''VF Plus'') is a right-wing political party in South Africa that was formed (as the Freedom Front) in 1994. It is led by Corné Mulder. Since 2024, it is a part of the current South African Third Cabin ...
, Pieter Groenewald, said those responsible for the unrest should face charges of sedition
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech or organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, establ ...
, among others. He added that South Africa needed to learn necessary lessons from the looting and violence, especially the need for rural development. Finally, he stated that the intelligence services failed the country.
*On 16 July 2021, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation released a statement claiming that the violent unrest is part of a counterrevolutionary insurgency seeking "state capture
State capture is a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state's decision-making processes to their own advantage.
The term was first used by the World Bank in 2000 to describe certain Central ...
."
*On 26 July 2021, Julius Malema
Julius Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981) is a South African politician. He is the founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a communist political party known for the red berets and military-style outfits worn by its members.
Be ...
, the leader of the EFF, criticised Ramaphosa's decision to deploy the SANDF to quell the unrest, and threatened to join in. "No soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining. All fighters must be ready." he said. He also rejected the claim that the unrest constituted an "insurrection".
Governments
* The Government of Botswana
The Government of Botswana often abbreviated as GOB, is the union government created by the constitution of Botswana having the executive, parliament, and the judiciary. The Seat of the Government is located in Gaborone, Botswana. The governme ...
issued a travel warning for South Africa as violence escalated in the country and advised its citizens to avoid travelling to the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal areas. The government also advised Botswana citizens in South Africa to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary movements.
* Foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (born 9 January 1955), better known as S. Jaishankar, is an Indian politician and retired diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service, Indian foreign service (IFS) who has held the office of the Minister of External Affairs ...
spoke to Naledi Pandor
Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor (née Matthews; born 7 December 1953) is a South African politician, educator and academic who served as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2019 until 2024. She also served as a Parliament o ...
, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
The minister of international relations and cooperation is the foreign minister of the South African government, with political responsibility for South Africa's foreign relations and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. ...
to express his concern with regards to reports of Indian South Africans
Indian South Africans are South Africans who descend from indentured labourers and free migrants who arrived from British Raj, British India during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The majority live in and around the city of Durban, making it ...
being targeted by looters.
* The Minister of Small Business Thesele Maseribane appealed to Ramaphosa to let regional leaders facilitate dialogues to ease tensions in South Africa and relieve the small business sector of Lesotho.
* President Hage Geingob
Hage Gottfried Geingob (3 August 1941 – 4 February 2024) was a Namibian politician who served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death in February 2024. Geingob was the country's first prime minister
A prime minister ...
noted that his country would be badly affected by the protests as most of their products, including oxygen for medical use, come from South Africa. He also added that the actions of protestors were not a solution to the problem and conveyed his sympathies to Ramaphosa.
* The United States Embassy
The United States has the second largest number of active diplomatic posts of any country in the world after the People's Republic of China, including 272 bilateral posts (embassies and consulates) in 174 countries, as well as 11 permanent miss ...
in Pretoria
Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country.
Pretoria strad ...
monitored the situation closely across South Africa and requested that US citizens living in South Africa ensure that they have sufficient food, fuel and medical supplies. The US embassy also received numerous inquiries from US citizens in South Africa about the availability of return flights to the United States.
* President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa ( , ; born 15 September 1942) is a Zimbabwean politician who has served as the president of Zimbabwe since 2017. A member of ZANU–PF and a longtime ally of former president Robert Mugabe, he held a series of cabin ...
called for an end to the protests and looting in South Africa and was quoted as saying “In the case of South Africa, we wish the current challenges facing our brothers and sisters in that country be resolved soon.”
Supranational organisations
* On 13 July 2021, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
The African Union Commission (AUC) acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union. It is headed by a chairperson and consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of policy.
The African ...
Moussa Faki
Moussa Faki Mahamat ('', ''; born 21 June 1960) is a Chadian politician and diplomat who was the Chairperson of the African Union Commission from 2017 to 2025. Previously he was Prime Minister of Chad from 24 June 2003 to 4 February 2005 and Min ...
released a press statement condemning the violence in South Africa. It also warned that internal disorder may threaten the stability of the region.
* On 13 July 2021, the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
in South Africa condemned the violence and expressed support for the government.
* On 15 July 2021, the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
delegation in South Africa expressed the concern over the situation that affected the citizens of South Africa including the expatriates from EU member states in South Africa. Echoing the UN statement, the EU called for all law enforcement agencies to act proportionately and respect human rights whilst they tackle these complex incidents.
Aftermath
Clean-up operations
By 15 July 2021, volunteer groups in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had begun repairing damaged property, donating food and providing transport to affected communities.
State of disaster
On 29 July 2021, citing the violence and looting that had caused widespread damage, KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala declared a state of disaster for the province, which decision he claimed was arrived at by the provincial executive council on 28 July.
Criminal justice
Police are investigating suspects and have arrested one unnamed individual as of 16 July 2021. 682 individuals face prosecution on allegations of public violence, looting, and destruction of infrastructure as of 19 July 2021.
Thulani Dlomo, the former head of the State Security Agency special operations unit and a loyal supporter of Zuma, is reported to be under investigation for inciting unrest. Radio personality and Zuma supporter Ngizwe Mchunu was also arrested for incitement to commit public violence. Bonginkosi Khanyile was also charged with incitement of violence, and due to appear in the Durban Magistrates Court on 22 October 2021.
ANC West Rand
The West Rand is the urban western part of the Witwatersrand that is functionally merged with the Johannesburg conurbation. This area became settled by Europeans after a gold-bearing reef discovered in 1886 and sparked the gold rush that ga ...
councillor Clarence Tabane was charged with incitement to commit public violence. Bruce Nimmerhoudt, a mayoral candidate for the Patriotic Alliance
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is a right-wing political party in South Africa, formed in November 2013 by, among others, businessmen and convicted criminals Gayton McKenzie and Kenny Kunene. Since 2024, it is a part of the current South African ...
party, appeared in court on charges of alleged incitement to commit public violence, and was charged under the Terrorism and Related Activities Act (Terrorism). ANC ward councillor Solly Seloane from Daveyton
Daveyton is a township (South Africa), township in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng in South Africa. It borders Etwatwa to the north-east, Springs, Gauteng, Springs to the south and Benoni, Gauteng, Benoni to the south-west. The ...
, Ekurhuleni
The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (; ; ; ) is a metropolitan municipality that forms the local government of the East Rand region of Gauteng, a large suburban region east of Johannesburg. ''Ekurhuleni'' means "place of peace" in Xi ...
was arrested for public violence and theft after CCTV footage appeared to show him stealing clothes from Markham and Totalsports stores during the unrest.
On 4 August evidence from multiple WhatsApp
WhatsApp (officially WhatsApp Messenger) is an American social media, instant messaging (IM), and voice-over-IP (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate Meta. It allows users to send text, voice messages and video messages, make vo ...
groups was handed over to the SAPS by GOOD party
The Good Party (Turkish language, Turkish: ''İYİ Parti'') is a Turkish nationalism, nationalist, Kemalism, Kemalist and Conservatism, conservative List of political parties in Turkey, political party in Turkey, established on 25 October 2017 b ...
representative Brett Herron to assist with investigations into the cause of the unrest. The Daily Maverick stated that the evidence directly linked 26 individuals, allegedly from within the ANC and government, with instigating, organising, and coordinating the unrest following Zuma's imprisonment.
On 28 August, the Hawks
Hawks are bird of prey, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are very widely distributed and are found on all continents, except Antarctica.
The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and othe ...
arrested two suspects in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on suspicion of using social media to incite public violence. Both suspects were expected to appear in court on 30 August 2021.
On 15 November, the South African Human Rights Commission
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) was inaugurated in October 1995 as an independent chapter nine institution. It draws its mandate from the South African Constitution by way of the Human Rights Commission Act of 1994.
Commissio ...
began an inquiry into the causes and consequences of the July unrest. It will examine allegations of racially-motivated attacks and killings, and the actions of the security forces. The inquiry is expected to run until December 2021.
On 30 January 2025, Jacob Zuma's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla was arrested on terrorism charges on suspicion of inciting violence on social media that contributed to the 2021 unrest.
See also
* 2023 South African National Shutdown
*Food riot
A food riot is a riot in protest of a shortage and/or unequal distribution of food. Historical causes have included rises in food prices, harvest failures, inept food storage, transport problems, food speculation, hoarding, poisoning of food, ...
* Wealth inequality in South Africa
*Corruption in South Africa
Corruption in South Africa includes the improper use of public resources for private ends, including bribery and improper favouritism. Corruption was at its highest during the period of state capture under the presidency of Jacob Zuma and has r ...
*Crime in South Africa
Crime in South Africa includes all violent and non-violent crimes that take place in the country of South Africa, or otherwise within its jurisdiction. When compared to other countries, South Africa has notably high rates of violent crime and ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:South African unrest, 2021
2021 protests
2021 riots
Anti-Indian sentiment
Anti-Indian racism in Africa
Civil disobedience in South Africa
Jacob Zuma
July 2021 crimes in Africa
July 2021 in South Africa
Looting in South Africa
Protests in South Africa
Riots and civil disorder in South Africa
Ethnic riots
Food riots
2021 crimes in South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa