In April 2021, the government ended the grant, saying it could no longer afford it, causing devastation for many. In May 2020, during the first lockdown, the South African government implemented a 350 rand ($24) social relief grant for unemployed citizens and refugees. South Africa experienced three waves of the coronavirus. “The pandemic requires one to wash their hands and be clean, yet there are numerous communities in townships and informal settlements with one communal toilet, one water pipe and no electricity,” he said. Mohapi alluded to this being a clear indication of the problem. The civil unrest had mostly hit communities that are rife with informal settlements, inadequate housing and inhumane living conditions. He continued, “If you look closely, the people that have been arrested for looting are people that have lost jobs, live in poverty and are hungry.” Thousands arrestedĪbout 2,500 people have reportedly been arrested for charges ranging from damage to property, theft and robbery in relation to the riots. We know that people saw an opportunity to avoid going to bed hungry and they took it.” Thapelo Mohapi of Abahlali baseMjondolo, the largest civil organisation of the poor in post-apartheid South Africa, said, “We have always said that people’s anger will go in many directions. It’s just not fair.”Īs the government struggles to reach a consensus about what caused the civil unrest, community leaders have blamed poverty, gross inequality and rising unemployment. Another boy who was shot in Alexandra was just standing near the mall. Sino Ngema, a community activist who joined a volunteer clean-up crew at the Pinetown grocery store, said: “I can’t believe that a young man lost his life here over a bottle of cold drink, over a mere 20 rand ($1.40). The devastation felt by families and communities, who have lost children as young as 14 years of age, is felt all over the country. Why kill our child?”Īt least 200 people have been killed during the widespread unrest that lasted nine days. We are poor, but I would have even prostitute myself to pay his bail. People are saying it was the shop’s security guards because he was stealing. His aunt, still reeling from the loss, said, “We don’t know what really happened to him. Just after midnight, the group returned to their residence covered in blood, distraught, and frantic – without him. Thabani picked up a bottle of cold drink from the floor but when he looked up, his brother and his friends had ventured into the mayhem.
The men stood at the entrance of the store, astonished by the chaotic scenes of people grabbing food and appliances for free and running out unabated. On July 8, about 8pm, Thabani, 23, his twin brother, and a group of their friends heard about the free-for-all at a local grocery that was being looted in Pinetown, where one of them worked as a car guard, and decided to walk there.