Widespread Riots in South Africa

[Yung]

Any updates?

(Express) South Africa riots: 'Heartbroken' locals scramble to rebuild after homes 'burnt to ground'

SOUTH AFRICA has been in a war with itself for years, and it seems to be coming to a peak in what some believe is indicative of a future coup as those dwelling in poverty grow restless.
By Samantha Leathers 15:52, Fri, Aug 20, 2021 | UPDATED: 15:52, Fri, Aug 20, 2021
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On August 5 Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, made a statement announcing a cabinet reshuffle.

President Ramaphosa has seen, in the last month, a flurry of detrimental blows to the power of his cabinet, not only has the recent unrest swivelled public values, but three of his most vital Ministers are being replaced.

In addition to this, President Ramphosa appointed 10 Ministers, 10 Deputy Ministers and, in a riskier move, dissolved the Ministry of State Security in his most recent announcement in the hopes of finding a balance between satisfying the public and protecting it from itself.

The president spoke about the riots for one of the first times during this announcement, saying: “Our law enforcement agencies are working hard to bring those responsible to justice, we have acknowledged that our security services were found wanting in several aspects.”

He went on to say that an expert panel will be formed to examine and analyse the shortcomings of law enforcement in these circumstances and how to be better prepared going forward.

This has not been received with overwhelming support, as law enforcement has never been a trusted source of security for South Africans and their recently expanded powers due to the riots and Covid-19 has left many feeling uneasy.
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Some have seen these riots as fully calculated attacks and not as spontaneous as they seem to be.

A former minister of home affairs has noted that the faction fights within the ANC dates back to 2017, when President Ramaphosa narrowly won his presidency from the hands of Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma – the ex-wife of former president Zuma.

For this exact reason, many believe there is a coup about to begin, and whilst there isn’t much evidence to back these claims at the moment, some fear that by the time there is it will be too late to save what little democracy remains.

(AP) South Africa Gets More Vaccines From US Amid Ongoing Surge

South Africa will this weekend receive 2.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses donated by the United States to add to the 5.6 million doses it received from the U.S. in July.

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME, Associated Press Aug. 27, 2021
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The new doses come as the country continues to battle an extended resurgence of COVID-19 infections and is racing to vaccinate 67% of its 60 million people by February next year.

They are expected to be delivered on Saturday, South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla said during a weekly COVID-19 briefing.

South Africa has already purchased 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The country has also bought 31 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which are being delivered in large shipments from overseas and from a manufacturing plant in South Africa.

(AP) South Africa must guard whistleblowers says security expert

MOGOMOTSI MAGOME, Associated Press
Aug. 27, 2021|Updated: Aug. 27, 2021 11:25 a.m.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The killing of a South African health official providing evidence about an allegedly corrupt contract to purchase COVID-19 personal protective equipment has sparked calls for better protection of whistleblowers in the country.

Babita Deokaran, 53, the Department of Health’s chief director of financial accounting, was shot and killed outside her home in Johannesburg this week. She was a key witness in investigations into suspect contracts worth millions of rands (dollars).

Deokaran was shot multiple times after dropping her child off at school in an apparent hit.

Police announced Friday that seven people have been arrested for Deokoran’s killing and will appear in court on murder charges.
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[entropy]

I’ve been watching a British documentary series on the Bush Wars.

Heartbreaking.