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The Inquiry: What’s behind the recent rioting in South Africa?

What’s behind the recent rioting in South Africa?

05/08/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - The Inquiry, What’s behind the recent rioting in South Africa?

Was there more to the riots in South Africa than reaction to the jailing of Jacob Zuma?

The recent riots in South Africa were sparked by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, but were there other factors behind the unrest?

The jailing of former South African president Jacob Zuma sparked huge unrest in the country, but was there more behind the riots than the fact of his imprisonment?

While some believe the riots were not only a reaction to Zuma’s jailing for contempt of court, but a planned attempt to bring the country to its knees, others say poverty and inequality also played its part.

Paul Connolly examines the factors behind the riots and asks how the country can rebuild from disturbances that have left many dead and parts of the country in ruins.

Producers: Rob Cave and Olivia Noon

(Rioters loot the Gold Spot Shopping Centre southeast of Johannesburg, July 12 2021. Credit: Guillem Sartorio /Getty Images)

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What’s behind the recent rioting in South Africa?

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