Following the imprisonment of Former South African President, Jacob Zuma, supporters have resolved to riot, blocking roads and looting shops.
Gatekeepers News reports that two South African provinces were most affected as dozens have been arrested.
South African Police on Sunday said it has arrested 62 persons and the body of a 40-year-old man was recovered from a shop that had been burned.
South Africa’s constitutional court had sentenced Zuma to jail on June 29 after he frequently refused to appear before corruption investigators to give evidence.
Zuma surrendered himself to the Police to serve a 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court and was taken to Estcourt Correctional Centre in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal last Wednesday. His bid to be released from prison was turned down by a regional court on Friday.
Supporters of the former South African leader who had vowed to render the country ungovernable if he ends up in jail, started rioting in his home region of KwaZulu-Natal province last week.
The riot spread during the weekend to Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city.
According to a statement by Police Major General, Mathapelo Peters hundreds of people looted and burned stores in the Alexandra and Bramley neighbourhoods of Johannesburg.
Gatekeepers News gathered that about three police officers were injured when trying to arrest looters and one was admitted to hospital.
The N3 highway linking Johannesburg and the coastal city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal was said to be blocked for many hours, including a stretch south of the Estcourt prison, where Zuma is being held.
Also, some 23 trucks were also set ablaze at Mooi River around 150 kilometres (100 miles) Northwest of Durban.
The unrest is despite President Cyril Ramaphosa called for calm on Sunday during his speech on COVID-19 restrictions.
He urged people to express themselves “in peaceful protest” and avoid acts that endanger lives and damage the economy.
“People have been intimidated and threatened, and some have even been hurt,” Ramaphosa said, adding that “some people may have died.”
Gatekeepers News reports that shops in both Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng will remain shut on Monday to avoid looting, according to district associations.
The Police have also said they are increasing their capacity in both provinces and warned Zuma’s supporters against inciting violence on social media, saying they could become liable for criminal charges.
