Jacob Zuma: Death toll rises to 72 as looting of pigs, coffins, properties continues

Following the imprisonment of former South Africa president Jacob Zuma, the streets of South Africa has been nothing but chaos.

The Ex-President handed himself over to the police to begin serving his 15 months jail sentence. However, his staunch supporters have a different idea of what justice means.

Parts of South Africa are currently engulfed with looting and the loss of lives. According to a BBC report, the death toll has dramatically risen to 72 over the past 5 days. 

Although the country police have been trying to quench the chaos, the rioters have turned a deaf ear until the former Freedom fighter is released. Major roads in the country have been blocked by the supporters, therefore stalling economic activities.

South African police notified the press that they have currently arrested 1,234 people since the riot began.

The protesters were reported to have clashed with security forces, and looters have hijacked the opportunity to loot shopping malls in the country. The Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province, Sihle Zikalala, told the press on Tuesday that a total of 26 people have died in his province alone. He said:

"Yesterday's events brought a lot of sadness. The number of people who have died in KwaZulu-Natal alone stands at 26. Many of them died from being trampled on during a stampede while people were looting items." 

Looted items included live pigs, pig carcasses, coffins, clothing, and food. According to a report from Bloomberg, the state of looting has gotten worse, such that more than 200 shopping malls had been looted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa termed the riot as the worst violence the country has ever experienced since the 1990s. 

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