Appeal from the Zulu King: Stop the anarchy

Looting and protests continue in South Africa.

The violence is now spreading to other regions.

An influential person speaks up - and calls for order.

Johannesburg - After days of violent protests and looting with at least 72 dead in parts of South Africa, civil resistance is forming in some provinces.

From townships around cities like Cape Town, Mahikeng or East London there were reports of civilian groups who tried to protect their infrastructure against looters. The young monarch of the Zulu ethnic group living in the affected province of KwaZulu-Natal, King Misuzulu, called for an end to the chaos in a speech broadcast nationwide. “It brought us great shame; my father's people are committing suicide, ”he said. The looting should stop immediately.

The king has great influence in the Zulu population, which also includes ex-President Jacob Zuma.

He had only recently been enthroned after his father's death.

"I call on the Zulu nation to withdraw from the destruction of our nation of South Africa," he demanded.

They destroy the economy of the country and also numerous jobs of the poor.

Against the background of growing tensions, he also called for the strong Indian population in KwaZulu-Natal to be treated as brothers and sisters.

The province was particularly hard hit by the violence initially sparked by Zuma's imprisonment.

There were further reports of looting there on Wednesday.

Four Somali foreigners killed

According to the government, the military, which has meanwhile been mobilized to support the police, was stationed primarily at strategic points around hospitals and airports, but also in the Alexandra township near Johannesburg.

At least four Somali foreigners were also killed and others injured during the riot.

The African Union (AU) made an urgent call for order to be restored in the face of the violence.

The Somali Foreign Ministry has confirmed that numerous Somali shops in the province of KwaZulu-Natal have also been looted.

Somali traders have been repeatedly targeted in attacks in South Africa in the past.

The Somali Foreign Office therefore appealed to the South African government to protect Somali citizens from brutal attacks.

The situation is exacerbated by the Corona crisis - many vaccination centers are closed because of the unrest.

There is also a threat of supply bottlenecks because one of the most important connections - the N3 motorway from Africa's most important port in Durban to Johannesburg - has been closed for days.

The estimated damage to the country's previously ailing economy is now estimated at tens of millions.

The riots began as a form of protest against the imprisonment of ex-President Jacob Zuma;

Within a few days, however, they developed into large-scale riots in the industrial heart of the country around Johannesburg and Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Zuma had been sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for disregard of justice, which he served late Wednesday. He has to answer before a commission of inquiry into various allegations of corruption during his term of office (2009-2018), but did not accept a subpoena. dpa