Name: Katlego Dhladhla

Student Number: 221085033

Module Name: Pols 102
Assignment
There have been numerous life-changing experiences in my brief life. Every new experience
was, at some point, the first experience. Every experience, for better or worse, has altered the
course of my life, but none has matched the recent looting incident in South Africa in July. It
is known that one of the key roles of the state is to protect and ensure the safety of its citizen,
but what happens when the state fails to live up to the citizens’ expectation much so that it
endangers not only its people but the state itself as well to the point where the state finds
itself at risk of being destabilized by angry citizens.
Shortly after the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma some of his supporters
from KwaZulu Natal felt the need to roadblock and cause commotion as they were driven by
their anger to the state, little did they know that would lead to the country facing one of its
biggest riots yet as looting occurred which was accompanied by violence and brutal massacre
of innocent people and unfortunately not only did that affect people in general but the state as
well. Some say this was an attempt to destabilize the state and some say it was just Zuma’s
supporters just looking for trouble but from my point of view this wasn’t about either of
these, it is more than just that, it is years and years of built up anger and disappointment to
the state for failing them and selling empty promises so this became an opportunity to
actually prove a point to the state that as citizens of the country we have the power to demote
you and we are tired of not being listened to. Now it is unfortunate that is resulted in people
losing their lives and jobs because of this.
I for one cannot express how deeply this affected me as UKZN student who originally resides
in Gauteng, by the time I had to leave for home the whole situation made it impossible for me
to departure and unfortunately I was stuck in KwaZulu Natal for over a month and as the riots
and looting spread to other provinces such Gauteng where my family had an operating farm
business which was put on hold and the particular reason for this circumstance is that it
become a victim of looting and what is saddening is that my uncle lost his life trying to
protect what was once ours. There are many ways to describe how I was feeling, and anger
was just an understatement. It is understandable how citizens felt towards the state but for
them to actually end people’s lives thinking “it will prove a point” is not heading towards the
right direction, why should we destabilize the state when we hold the power to make the state
take accountability for its failure to deliver its promises to us. This is a game of politics and
playing dirty might get you far ahead but remind no consequences remain unfaced.
The economy was harmed a lot of business were forced to shut down and obviously jobs
were lost, investors pulled out as they thought South Africa is not a good place to invest to
anymore, the riots and looting resulted in food shortages, fuel shortages and medical supply
shortages. Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng account for more than half of South Africa's Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) and during the riots on the 12 July, the Rand, local currency,
weakened by about 2% affecting the economy. In the state’s defence it has tried to make
amends to ease the riots and recover stolen goods by deploying the South African National
Defence Force, it also vowed to repair to loses in the economy hence the results will yet to be
seen as we are on going recovery phase as an economy and hopefully it will live up to its
promises because the whole tragedy highlighted how powerful and dangerous an angry
person can be.
With that being exclaimed the state must account for playing a role in the incidents that
occurred because it could have done more to prevent the damage that has been done, a state is
supposed to have power over its citizen and what kind of state plays silent when it is being
threatened. However, if an incident like this were to occur again then we would have a
declining state that is near collapsing on its own.
References

1. Chothia F. (2021), South Africa Zuma riots: Looting and unrest leaves 72 dead.
Available from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57818215 [Accessed 21
September 2021]
2. Givetash L. (2021), After protests and looting tear through South Africa, the nation
wonders: What now. Available from: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/after-
protests-looting-tear-through-south-africa-nation-wonders-what-n1275585 [Accessed
19 September 2021]
3. VOA News (2021), Poverty at Root of South Africa Violence and Looting: Analyst.
Available from: https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_poverty-root-south-africa-
violence-and-looting-analyst/6208433.html [Accessed 25 September 2021]
4. IFRC (2021), South Africa: Urban violence - Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA)
DREF Operation n° MDRZA010. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/south-
africa/south-africa-urban-violence-emergency-plan-action-epoa-dref-operation-n-
mdrza010 [Accessed 25 September 2021]