Riots escalate in South Africa and store closures
Major South African companies were among those forced to halt operations as some of the worst protests erupted since the end of white minority rule in parts of the country, with rioters burning trucks and looting shops.
The country's four largest banks, led by Standard Bank Group and First Rand, have closed their branches in KwaZulu-Natal province, the epicenter of the violent protests, and Gauteng province, South Africa's economic hub, the companies said in e-mailed responses to questions on Monday.
Walmart's Smart Holdings stores, as well as telecom giants "Vodacom" and "MNT" Group, have also closed their branches, while the latter company operates the main call center with a minimal number, according to Bloomberg News.
Pharmacies in KwaZulu-Natal were closed, hampering testing for COVID-19 and administering vaccines.
Small shops were closed in downtown Johannesburg as looters roamed the city's streets.
Six people died in rioting in protests that erupted after the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma last week, which resulted in dozens of shops being looted and the currency weakening.
The South African National Defense Force began pre-deployment operations after a request from the joint national operational and intelligence structure to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces in dealing with the riots.
The police had said in a statement on Sunday that the authorities had arrested more than 200 people and worked to disperse hundreds of protesters, as companies in the two provinces were looted.
And the "Bloomberg" news agency reported today, Monday, that the authorities announced that the duration and number of soldiers to be deployed will be determined on the basis of an assessment of the situation on the ground by the relevant law enforcement agencies.
The National Defense Force's deployment of its personnel is aimed at providing a safety and safe working environment for the police and other law enforcement agencies.
Last week, the Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison for failing to comply with summonses to appear.
He must respond to a commission of inquiry on a number of corruption charges during his tenure between 2009 and 2018.
On several occasions, Zuma has questioned the legitimacy of the commission, stressing that he would rather go to prison than appear before it.
Zuma is now at the Eastcourt Rehabilitation Center in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to consider his request to overturn his prison sentence, a process not included in the Constitutional Court's decision.
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South Africa,
Riots