Why South Africa Just Suffered Its Worst Riots Since Apartheid

The jailing of South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, in July triggered protests that devolved into the worst violence -- at least 215 people dead during days of rampant looting and arson -- the country has seen since the end of apartheid in 1994. The upheaval wasn’t just about politics, though. It also was driven by persistent and deep inequalities that have been exacerbated by the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, and has spurred the government to devise new plans to fight poverty.

The Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma -- who’d resigned in 2018 under threat of impeachment -- had to testify before a judicial commission to respond to allegations that he’d facilitated and been party to endemic corruption during his years in power. He refused and charged that acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who is heading the inquiry, was biased against him (an allegation Zondo denies). Zuma was then convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in jail. He was arrested after refusing to turn himself in. Zuma, who maintains his innocence, accuses the top court of convicting him without a trial and of not giving him the opportunity to argue for a lighter sentence. He’ll be eligible for parole as soon as November, but could spend longer behind bars if convicted in a separate, ongoing bribery case.