In a nation known for periodic outbursts of violent protests, the events this year with protests against the government are not unexpected. The South African leadership has been corrupt since the Mandela days and it has only worsened in the last decade despite soaring commodity prices which help with the foreign currency reserves of this resource rich nation.
In Thembisa, a township northeast of Johannesburg, riots broke out after residents became infuriated even further with a government beset by soaring inflation, out of control crime, and shortages on the grocery shelves. Coverage from Al-Jazeera highlighted the story which average Americans will hear nothing about on their local nor national newscasts:
Four dead in South Africa protests over high power costs
Excerpt:
Protests over poor services occur regularly in South Africa, which is battling some of the highest unemployment and crime rates in the world. Power cuts have also become frequent in recent months, as national utility company Eskom battles high debts and a labour strike.
The latest bout of protests came less than two weeks after former President Thabo Mbeki warned the country could see an uprising similar to the Arab Spring, triggered by mounting discontent.
The video looks like a decent into chaos is just weeks away.
And a shorter version which sounds like the police opening fire on protesters:
A fascinating article from The Daily Maverick warns of the chaos to come:
Business and communities still struggle to recover from July 2021 while alerts issued to avoid another insurrection
And this article (audio):
Business and communities still struggle to recover from July 2021 while alerts issued to avoid another insurrection
This pot is just beginning to boil.
Unfortunately the World Economic Forum does care about body counts, just results.
Visits: 0