About six people have been killed and almost 500 apprehended since Jacob Zuma turned himself in last week.
According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, people should stand against violence.
The violence was brought about by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma has resulted in the looting of shops and burning of buildings.
Meanwhile, troops have been dispatched in Gauteng province, as well as in Zuma’s home province, KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the authorities, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his term in office.
The former president was sentenced to 15-months in prison despite denying corruption charges.
President Ramaphosa yesterday doomed the acts of public violence that have never been seen in the country’s history of democracy.
The conflict started as protests against Zuma’s imprisonment has increased and worsened.
“What we are witnessing now are opportunistic acts of criminality, with groups of people instigating chaos merely as a cover for looting and theft,” Ramaphosa concurred.
“There is no grievance or political cause that can justify the violence and destruction that we have seen in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.”
According to an AFP news agency report, the violence has affected COVID-19 vaccination as some vaccination centres have been looted and shattered.
“Our vaccination programme has been severely disrupted just as it was gaining momentum. This will have lasting effects on our progress in economic recovery,” the president confirmed.
By Hall Morara
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