South Africa's Ramaphosa Consults With Party Leaders on Measures to End Unrest
20:16 GMT 14.07.2021 (Updated: 20:22 GMT 14.07.2021)
© AP Photo / Jerome Delay
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday consulted with leaders of political parties on measures to end the unrest that ensued after the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma.
Protests erupted on Friday night following news of the ex-president's jailing. The first waves of unrest began in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal and have since spilled over to South Africa’s economic capital of Johannesburg in Gauteng. The protests were accompanied by looting and vandalism. On Monday, the government dispatched troops to quell the unrest. The death toll from the violence rose to 72, while 1,234 people have reportedly been detained.
"President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the leaders of South Africa’s political parties that government is intensifying its efforts and working in partnership with civil society to stem public violence affecting various parts of the country ... Leaders of political parties characterised the situation in the country as an attack on the democratic order that required a multifaceted response in the long term, in view of deep levels of unemployment and poverty," the presidency said in a statement.
Party leaders called on transport authorities to ensure the safety of major routes so that the population has access to food, fuel and medical supplies. The politicians also called for a 9.00 p.m.-4.00 a.m. curfew.
"The political leaders called for greater coordination among the police, the national defence force, intelligence agencies, private security services and community-based safety structures," the statement read, adding that "President Ramaphosa welcomed proposals made by political leaders and said expanded deployment of the South African National Defence Force was being addressed."
Zuma, 79, turned himself in last week to begin serving the 15-month sentence he was handed for contempt of court after skipping a corruption trial.
