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South African Army soldiers in Alexandria Township, Johannesburg
Photo: KIM LUDBROOK / EPA
With one of the largest military operations in the history of its young democracy, South Africa wants to curb the violence that has been going on in parts of the country for days. After a week of looting and arson, an additional 25,000 military personnel are to be deployed in addition to the 5,000 soldiers who have already been mobilized. All available reservists received marching orders, the army said in a statement. They should report to their units with all their equipment on Thursday. Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had informed parliament on Wednesday evening about the planned operation, as she told the TV channel eNCA. President Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to approve it.
Although there were still isolated indications of looting, the clean-up work began in many places on Thursday.
Initial estimates assume damage in the three-digit million range.
Officially, the authorities continue to speak of 72 dead and numerous injured.
On TV pictures of a looted hardware store in Pietermaritzburg, the recovery of several corpses could be seen - eyewitnesses spoke of at least seven other dead.
Long lines in front of gas stations
The supply bottlenecks announced by President Ramaphosa made themselves felt in the Alexandra township near Johannesburg, but also in the port city of Durban. There were miles of queues in front of gas stations that were still open. After fighting over the scarce gasoline, soldiers secured the place. The aerial photos also showed long queues of more than a hundred meters in front of the grocery stores that were still open.
Police Minister Bheki Cele announced the discovery of tens of thousands of rounds of live ammunition in a suburb of Durban late on Wednesday evening in front of the camera.
He told TV broadcaster Newzroom Africa: "Some people are preparing for war." It is wrong that people only pillaged out of hunger - some also armed themselves.
"A dangerous situation," he said without further explanation.
According to official information, 15 people were killed in the suburb of Phoenix in tension with the Indian population - Cele spoke of "ugly scenes" there.
Protests began after the imprisonment of ex-President Zuma
The province of KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast and the metropolitan area around the major cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria in Gauteng province are particularly hard hit by the violence. The government mobilized the military because the police outnumbered the looters. Meanwhile, civil vigilante groups and neighborhood groups are also forming. The influential taxi companies are now also trying to prevent attacks on important infrastructure. Clinics, drug stores and even schools were apparently attacked beforehand.
The riots had started with protests against the imprisonment of ex-President Jacob Zuma from KwaZulu-Natal.
A week ago he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for disregarding the judiciary.
The protests quickly developed into large-scale riots.
The military is now to be deployed primarily in the two affected provinces.
With a total of 30,000 soldiers mobilized, according to the military expert Darren Olivier, the entire armed forces of the Cape State would be deployed.
It is therefore unclear whether South Africa can, as planned, participate in an aid force of the regional alliance of states, SADC, for the fight against terrorism in the neighboring state of Mozambique.
fek / lau / dpa / AFP
