The riots in South Africa are considered to be the largest since democratization, and President Lamaposa has stated that he will take a strong stance against those who instigate violence.
Looting and arson have begun to subside, but the impact is widespread, including food shortages in the affected areas.
In South Africa, some of the participants in the protests against the imprisonment of former President Zuma became mobs, which led to the looting of shops and the spread of arson in warehouses, making it the largest scale since democratization in 1994. It became a riot.
On the 16th, President Lamaposa visited a state in Durban in the southeast, where the riots were particularly violent, and said, "I do not tolerate disorder and turmoil. I will take a strong response to those who instigated violence."
According to local media, looting, arson, and road blockades continue in some areas, but overall they are beginning to subside.
Under these circumstances, many shopping malls with large supermarkets have been destroyed in areas where looting has been rampant, and food shortages are spreading among residents.
Even in Johannesburg, the largest city, people lined up to buy food at vulnerable shops, and a man who visited said, "The shops near my house have not been destroyed. I buy bread. I lined up from 6 am for that reason. "
In addition, as refineries have stopped and distribution has ceased, there is a shortage of gasoline in some areas, and many pharmacies have been destroyed, resulting in a shortage of medicines.
Local Japanese expatriate "No way it gets worse so far"
Many Japanese companies have set up operations in South Africa, which is known as Africa's largest industrialized country, and it is said that about 700 Japanese expatriates and their families live there.
Of these, Toshiya Konan (59), a representative of the logistics company "Hankyu Hanshin Express", said in an interview with NHK, "Originally, while the infection with the new coronavirus is spreading, we combine working from home and going to work. For the past few days, I've been working from home and keeping in touch with other expatriates while watching the news. Some people have been unable to receive the planned infection due to the closure of the new coronavirus infection site. " Did.
In addition, while the largest refinery in South Africa was shut down and logistics were affected, some of the gas shortages occurred. "I went to a gas station two days ago, but it was more crowded than usual for a long time. I've been waiting. South Africa has a lot of crimes, and I have to drive for a little shopping in the neighborhood, so I'm worried because I can't live without a car. "
He added, "I didn't expect it to get worse so much. I'm worried that the impression of not only South Africa but Africa as a whole will be worsened when conducting business and investment from Japan."