“Sphela Ndawonde. Say his name. The Johannesburg security guard is the first person to be killed as a result of the destructive misinformation campaign stoked by convict Jacob Zuma’s family and sycophants in the wake of his imprisonment last week.” Adriaan Basson’s stirring opening paragraph underlines the horrific scenes playing out across Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng with the death toll rising to six at the time of writing. Basson writes now that Zuma is in jail his family and associates continue to spout lies and misinformation about the former president and should be held accountable before the law for their actions. (For subscribers)
Meanwhile looting and rioting has brought these two provinces to its knees. Today alone the N3 highway was shut down, police officers on leave were recalled to help contain the violence, the SANDF has been deployed, and Sassa payments at cash pay points has been suspended.
While Justice Malala writes that the ongoing riots are not a protestation for a “fair trial” for Zuma, so much as they are an opportunistic attempt to treat Zuma differently to an ordinary citizen held before the law. “If you are a powerful politician, such as the former president, the law must treat you with leniency. That is why his supporters are spreading the lie that he has been jailed “without trial”. Malala goes on to call the assertion a complete “fabrication”.
And Giulietta Talevi writes that for all President Ramaphosa’s “soothing” words delivered in his address to the nation on Sunday evening he failed to mention Zuma by name even as the violence erupted as he spoke on television.
Here’s a roundup of the most interesting opinions and analyses:
#ZumaUnrest: Was SANDF deployment necessary to curb violence? We ask three experts – News24 (For subscribers)
How Zuma ended up in prison, and why no one can be allowed to disobey the law – News24 (For subscribers)
Words match reality as Zuma get his comeuppance despite tricks – Business Day
Let the rand work for the people – Business Day (For subscribers)
Is a genetic mistake or evolution to blame for our love of alcohol? – Daily Maverick
Gauteng, KZN violent protests could spill over to other provinces – The Citizen (For subscribers)
SA economy is on a clear path towards healing – Fin24 (For subscribers)
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