Violence Mars Lead-Up to South Africa’s Municipal Elections
- Local government vote scheduled to take place on Aug. 3
- Community protests, party infighting intensify ahead of vote
Protesters burn properties and barricade the roads during protest against eviction on May 23, 2016 in Hammanskraal, South Africa.
Photographer: Foto24/Getty ImagesThe lead-up to South Africa’s local elections in August has turned increasingly violent as poor communities use the campaign as leverage to demand better living standards and politicians vie for control of the 278 municipalities.
Communities staged 70 protests against a lack of decent housing, education and other services in the first four months of the year, up from 44 in the same period last year, according to Municipal IQ, which monitors the municipalities. Perceptions that the authorities only respond to grievances when demonstrations turn violent is fueling the unrest, according to Kevin Allan, the research company’s managing director.