South Africa rocked by violence as Jacob Zuma riots claim 72 lives
The death toll in South Africa has risen to 72 following protests against the arrest and detention of former president Jacob Zuma.
Several looters, who set alight a number of shopping centres, clashed with police in several cities last night.
In Durban, a baby was filmed being thrown off a building due a fire. The child was caught by a crowd of people who rushed over to help. Prior to this, 10 people were killed in a stampede in Soweto whilst looting a shopping centre.
The unrest follows after Zuma was convicted of contempt of court. He handed himself over to the authorities last Wednesday after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. A claim which Zuma continues to deny.
Damage
South African Police said they have identified 12 suspects who allegedly have started the riots, with a total of 1,234 arrests being made.
More than 200 shopping malls had been looted by Monday. Many shopping centres in Soweto, South Africa’s largest townshi, was largely ransacked.
Ambulances have come under attack by rioters in KwaZulu-Natal, the homeland of Jacob Zuma. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the situation as some of the worst violence in South Africa since the 1990s.