(4 minutes read)
- According to government sources, at least 40,000 South African businesses were looted, burnt or vandalized during the recent widespread rioting
- The heavy damage to the national property happened after the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma
- Major losses had happened in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, where hundreds of shopping centers and warehouses were ransacked since July 9
According to government sources, at least 40,000 South African businesses were looted, burnt or vandalized during the recent widespread rioting. The heavy damage to the national property happened after the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma. Major losses had happened in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, where hundreds of shopping centers and warehouses were ransacked since July 9. The looting and arson later spread to Johannesburg. Coupled with adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was a double whammy to the fledgling South African economy.
The official estimate is that 40,000 businesses were affected in KZN, causing the national economy an estimated US$3.4 billion. In the province, 161 malls and an equal number of liquor outlets were extensively damaged and looted.
In the southeastern province of the country, more than 200 shopping centers and 100 malls were looted or burnt. At least 1,400 ATMs were damaged and 300 banks and post offices vandalized. Besides, a total of 90 pharmacies were destroyed beyond revival in the midst of brutal coronavirus third wave. The government is still in the process of assessing damages to the businesses, according to President Ramaphosa, who hit out at the perpetrators of the riot. According to him there was virtually no part of the economy that has not been affected by the violence. In Gauteng province, that includes the economic hub of Johannesburg, damages are still to be assessed. The government sources admitted that they were not sufficiently prepared for violence and that security forces could have responded quicker.
The violence has claimed 215 lives. However, no incident was reported in the last few days. Several people were arrested who were indulged in arson and looting. The violence was triggered when former President Zuma began serving a 15-month jail term for snubbing a corruption inquiry.
