South Africa Unrest: death toll from violent Protests rises to 117

South Africa Unrest: death toll from violent Protests rises to 117

 

Residents clean rubble and debris from the streets in Alexandra township after protests and unrest linked to the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma, in Johannesburg, South Africa. © Reuters

The death toll from violent protests in South Africa has risen to 117 with more than 2,000 arrests.

Days of unrest have left a trail of devastation in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, with officials saying 800 retailers have been targeted.

Several clinics and schools have also been vandalised.

During clean-up operations in streets and shopping centres on Thursday, more bodies were discovered.

But authorities are confident that they have turned the corner in dealing with the mayhem.

An additional 5,000 soldiers were deployed on Thursday – to join the 2,500 deployed on Monday.

But KwaZulu-Natal, where the unrest began following the jailing last week of ex-President Jacob Zuma, remains volatile.

Johannesburg, the main city in Gauteng, is relatively calm, though the threat is far from over.

The BBC has seen vigilante groups there working with police to guard their local malls as looters mobilised themselves in the distance.

Elsewhere long lines have formed outside food shops, following shortages caused by the plundering.