South Africa Riots Death Toll Rises to 276

The death toll in South Africa from the violence that followed the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma has risen to 276.

Thus far, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the president’s office, said 234 people had died in KwaZulu-Natal and another 42 in Gauteng, according to the BBC.

Thousands of businesses were looted in the riots that mainly affected the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

It was a level of violence unprecedented in post-apartheid South Africa. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa, said the violence and looting had been planned and instigated – and those responsible were being pursued.

A former DJ appeared in court on Wednesday on charges of inciting the violence – he is one of about a dozen people prosecutors believe instigated the unrest.

The unrest has now largely subsided following the deployment of 25,000 soldiers.

Police were carrying out “mopping-up operations to ensure opportunistic and copycat activities do not find traction”, the AFP news agency quotes Ntshavheni as saying.

Several thousand others have been arrested for looting.

– Agencies

Featured Image: The estimated cost to the economy in KwaZulu-Natal province alone has been put at more than $1bn [Photo Getty Image]