The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has released its report on the July 2021 unrest, stating that there was no direct link between the arrest of former statesman Jacob Zuma and the violent events that unfolded.
The commission’s findings indicate that while Zuma’s arrest for contempt of court coincided with the looting, there is no evidence to suggest a causal relationship.
During the unrest, over 300 people lost their lives, and the country’s economy suffered a loss of approximately R50 billion. While Zuma supporters held pickets demanding his release before the unrest, the SAHRC found that the looting was not directly connected to these protests.
According to SAHRC commissioner Philie Ntuli, “While the timing of the events of the July unrest coincided with the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma, it could not find evidence to link the two.”
However, Ntuli did suggest that the unrest may have been a deliberate attempt to destabilize the South African economy.
The SAHRC has deferred the responsibility of determining who planned the unrest to the police and the National Prosecuting Authority. It is now up to these authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and make a conclusive finding regarding the organizers of the unrest.
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