[Epoch Times, July 15, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Xu Jian comprehensive report) The downstairs was set on fire, and the smoke billowed. The desperate mother upstairs hesitated and had to throw her baby down from high altitude. Robbery and arson occurred in parts of South Africa for six consecutive days, one of the scenes that shocked the world.
After the former South African President Zu Ma was imprisoned on Thursday (July 8), violence occurred in his hometowns of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, resulting in at least 72 deaths. , More than a thousand people were arrested. KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are the two most densely populated provinces in the country. South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, is located in Gauteng.
The scene where the mother was forced to throw the baby from a height took place in Durban. At that time, the shop on the first floor was set on fire, and the bystanders downstairs opened their arms and waited to pick up the baby. Fortunately, the baby was safe and sound and was later reunited with his mother.
South Africa has mobilized the army to help the police in the two provinces, but it is still difficult to cope with. In many towns and villages, some local people armed with guns, clubs and knives began to spontaneously maintain order.
At the same time, road disruptions in troubled areas, warehouse robberies, and robberies in urban centers have disrupted the transportation chain of crops from farms to markets to retail stores. This has raised concerns about catastrophic food shortages. People and experts are all here. Warn of a possible “humanitarian disaster”.
Late on Tuesday night, the Sapref refinery in Durban, the country’s largest, said it would temporarily suspend production because the safety of its employees could not be guaranteed. Sapref supplies one-third of South Africa’s fuel. Experts warned that fuel shortages in the coming days are “inevitable” of”.
“We need to restore law and order as soon as possible, because we will face a large-scale humanitarian crisis.” said Christo van der Rheede, the head of AgriSA, the largest farmer organization.
“Nothing, no shops, no food, no water, everything was burned or robbed.” A resident of Alexandria Town, Johannesburg told the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, which is the most crowded and congested area in South Africa. One of the poorest areas.
In Soweto, a large town on the western outskirts of Johannesburg, locals succeeded in driving away the looters and defending the Maponya mall, while the other two malls were completely destroyed. Earlier TV pictures showed the scene of the robbery of the mall: dozens of men, women and even children entered the butcher’s freezer and came out carrying a heavy frozen meat box. Some women were still wearing pajamas.
The country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in a national speech that “violence, looting and anarchy will only lead to more violence and destruction.” He has repeatedly called on the people to remain calm and urged people to “pass Peaceful protest” to express opinions and avoid life-threatening and economic damage.
Editor in charge: Lin Yan #
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