South Africa Riots: How Jacob Zuma's connection to Gupta Brothers triggered violence

South Africa is currently experiencing its worst violence since end of aparid in early 1990s and full democratisation was declared across nation. unrest reportedly began over Court's ruling to arrest and jail country's former President Jacob Zuma, culminating years of political turmoil.

79-year-old former Zuma is an activist who represented Nelson Mandela's African National Congress and served as South Africa's President from 2009 to 2018 before he stepped down over alleged corruption charges.

South Africa riots and Jacob Zuma's surrender

Zuma was charged with allegations of taking bribes for government contracts, allowing influential businesspeople to select Ministers in his Cabinet and or particularly dicey claims. Some allegations also mentioned that he misused government funds for personal gains. However, Zuma denies all charges and claims incence.

It must be ted that for several years, Zuma and his ministration igred government commission's orders to appear before inquiry panel. On June 29, South Africa's highest court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court, as he continued to disobey court orders to be present for a formal hearing.

After repeated requests and summons turning into warnings, Jacob Zuma turned himself in to authorities on July 7 to begin serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. However, shortly after he surrendered riots exacerbated in his home district near Zulu, before spreing to major South African cities, including Johannesburg and Durban. Jacob Zuma Foundation has since issued a statement delivered as a veiled threat that explained 'Peace and stability is directly linked to release of President Zuma'.

South Africa's ecomic crisis

press release has only ded fuel to fire as riots have grown rapidly in country. South Africa is also experiencing an ecomic crisis aggravated by a third COVID-19 lockdown, implemented in June 2021 as country faces its biggest COVID-19 wave.

Lockdowns have battered South Africa's alrey struggling ecomy, which shrank by an annualised 51 per cent in a single quarter in 2020. An estimated 16 per cent of South Africans currently face hunger and starvation after government's stimulus pack expired last month.

After aparid, South Africa was poised for rapid ecomic growth, however, ecomy has tanked with rampant unemployment and ecomic stagnation, often attributed to corruption and poor governance. While riots were kicked off after Zuma's surrender, it cant be denied worsening ecomic conditions have also fueled violence and people are w rioting against a government that y believe hasn't met ir basic needs.

Scale of violence

Rioters have reportedly torched buildings, looted shopping centres and clashed with police which has led to death of as many as 72 people and arrest of over 1,200 so far. To keep violence in check, on Monday, July 12, South Africa deployed 25,000 soldiers to help end unrest. All this while Indian government has raised concerns about safety of Indian community in South Africa.

Riots which began as protests in Zulu-Natal, escalated into looting in nearby townships as well. South Africa's consumer goods regulatory body estimates that more than 800 shops are documented to have been plundered so far. With stores and warehouses plundered in Johannesburg, Durban and or areas, supply chains of food, fuel and medicine have been severely hit, on which most of country depends. As unrest continues, factories and warehouses were set on fire after being targeted in arson attacks.

Is Indian community in South Africa affected?

Incidents of clashes have been reported in Durban between Black South Africans and counterparts of Indian herit. tably, of charges against former President Zuma, key allegations include Gupta family, which originally hails from UP but moved to South Africa in 1993. family which owns far-reaching influence in several industries namely coal mines, computer manufacturing and newspapers, h also been warned by Interpol and issued a red corner tice over a 2016 graft report.

Following clash, Police Minister Bheki Cele visited Phoenix, a predominantly Indian community where 15 people were killed. Shortly after, #PhoenixMassacre was trending online. " Indian nation here in Zulu-Natwa is second largest outside of India," new Zulu king, Misizulu Zulu, said in an appeal to his community on Wednesday. "We have lived in peace for many years alongside m. refore I ask: Let us be understanding and thoughtful towards each or." current President Cyril Ramaphosa also reached out to Indian community and assured m that attacks were t racially motivated following incident.

Who are Gupta Brors?

Gupta brors was a small business family that hailed from Saharanpur in Uttar Presh. family initially moved to South Africa in 1993 when country was opening up to world at end of aparid. y have been kwn to tre from shoes to electronics, coal mining to automobiles in country. And as ir business flourished y reportedly developed more political connections and entered many or industries as well.

In 2016, South Africa saw a major political controversy, even remembered as Guptagate at time. conflict was over allegations that Gupta Brors h promised n deputy Finance Minister a Cabinet position as Finance Minister if he vanced ir business interests. Gupta Brors allegedly also promised to pay 600 million Rands (Rs 300 crores).

Around same time, former Finance Minister and person of Indian origin Pravin Gordhan alleged that Gupta Brors were responsible for removing him from Jacob Zuma's government, only to furr ir business interests. Following this, over 1 lakh emails were leaked establishing an incriminating link between Gupta Brors and Zuma government.

In 2018, after Opposition banded toger to bring a -confidence motion against Jacob Zuma, ANC also suffered a humiliating defeat in elections and former President h to step down. Gupta Brors n soon fled to Dubai, where y are currently rumoured to reside.

Who is Zulu King?

Zulu King is present he of Zulu royal family, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. He was anunced as King on day of his mor's funeral, Queen regent Mantfombi Dlamini, who died unexpectedly on 29 April 2021.

It can be ted a British ship arrived in South Africa carrying 342 Indians in vember 1860, and today it is home to one of largest populations with over 1 million people of Indian descent on continent and elsewhere