CONCERN: African Union Commission Warns SA Unrest May Affect Entire Region

South Africa has been thrown into fire after the detention of Jacob Zuma PHOTO/BUSINESS LIVE

By SMN Reporter

ADDIS, ABABA-SHIFTMEDIA- The African Union Commission has warned that the unrest in South Africa may have a great toll on the entire region.

The Rainbow Nation was thrown into a frenzy and widespread looting that has also left 72 dead after the detention of former President Jacob Zumba.

Jacob Zuma was handed a 15-month jail sentence for contempt of a constitutional Court order. His supporters were against this move prompting the widescale violence and looting in Kwazulu Natal and Durban.

The commission in a statement issued on Wednesday condemned the unrest in South Africa.

Violent protests initially broke out in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, fuelled by calls to free former president Jacob Zuma from prison.

According News24.com Violent looting continued into Tuesday night in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Incidents of mass violence and looting of businesses have taken place, along with the destruction of public and private infrastructure.

‘Appalling scenes’

More than 1 200 people have been arrested for public violence and economic sabotage.

In a statement, African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat spoke out against “the surge of violence that has resulted in the deaths of civilians and appalling scenes of the looting of public and private property”.

Mahamat also condemned the destruction of infrastructure and the violence that had necessitated the suspension of essential services in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“The chairperson extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a rapid and full recovery to the wounded,” the statement read.

“The chairperson calls for [the] urgent restoration of order, peace and stability in the country in full respect of the rule of law. He stresses that failure to do so can have grave impacts not only in the country but the region as a whole.”

Mahamat added that the government and people of South Africa had the “full and unwavering solidarity of the African Union Commission”.

Shift Media News

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