It has been two weeks since the nationwide protects in South Africa. South Africa has been rocked by the utmost violence since the nation reached democracy in 1994. The unrests began with the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma on July 8th, when he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after failing to appear before an inquiry.
What began as a political demonstration led to destruction, not only in Durban — a city where many of Zuma’s supporters reside — but in the administrative capital of Pretoria and the largest urban centre, Johannesburg.
Tires were burnt in the streets and shopping malls were looted. At least a recorded number of 212 people were killed across the country, over 2,550 were arrested and more suspects are still under surveillance; said President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday in a televised address to the country.
With the ramifications to be felt by most South Africans in the coming months, along with the Covid-19 third wave and the associated harsher lockdown restrictions, the shock events of the past two weeks will put significant strain on economic activity at the start of the third quarter, says economists at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER). GDP is now set for a large contraction in Q3 2021, it said.
South Africa is found in the middle of a double crisis: #Covid19 and the recent #Riots.
United Way South Africa is committed to standing with our communities and supporting those in need, in these difficult times. It is our duty to continue to support the local underserved communities.
At United Way South Africa, we are here to help restore and repair our beautiful country.
How can you get involved?
We are running campaigns across the country aimed at:
1. Ensuring sustainable food security
2. Responding to the humanitarian crisis
3. Supporting businesses get back on track after the looting incidents
Contact United Way South Africa on info@unitedway.org.za or call Vicky Sepp on +27 78 618 0394. Visit our website: https://www.unitedway.org.za/