A Week of Unrest - Riots and Looting in Durban, South Africa.

Photo by GUILLEM SARTORIO/AFP via Getty Images

 

The charred remains of two vehicles are seen in Phoenix Township, North Durban, on July 15, 2021 after days of violence in the community. - Armed community members and vigilante groups have stepped in to tackle unrest in South Africa, taking matters into their own hands and sometimes stoking violence as security forces struggle to restore order. Understaffed and heavily reliant on private security companies, the police was rapidly overwhelmed when riots and looting first flared last week in the southeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), sparked by the jailing of graft-accused former president Jacob Zuma. 

Durban, South Africa- looting in West street after Zuma's arrest. Arson attacks in residential and manufacturing areas of Durban.

Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 12: Burnt out trucks on the road in Sea Cow Lake area on July 12, 2021 in Durban, South Africa. It is reported that a considerable number of shops and businesses were looted over the weekend following a wave of violent protests after the incarceration of former South African President Jacob Zuma. 

Due to damage affecting infrastructure, very little news has come from Durban until yesterday, after civil unrest. I used to live very close to the Durban city centre, on the Esplanade. I started off at John Ross House (Roma Revolving Restaurant was on the 31st floor) near the harbour but moved to the Gables. I trained at Entabeni but later worked at Parklands hospital in Overport, near Berea. Since I left Durban, the main street (West street) has been renamed as 'Dr Pixley Ka Sele' street while Smith street has been renamed as Anton Lemde street. Both run parallel to each other and connect the CBD to the beachfront district. The beautiful City Hall with the Queen Victoria structure and the fountain are artifacts of history. Every year on Anzac day a few wreaths were lain at the base of the angel-like figure on the war memorial, sometimes at the base of one of the other historically protected monuments, and I always wondered who honored the Anzacs. I think the area in front of the hall is called the Francis Farewell gardens. From photographs I have seen today, a considerable amount of damage was done in the city centre.  The Oriental Restaurant at the Workshop was set alight during the unrest. This is very close to the Town Hall which has been fondly described as architecture built in the "Neo-Baroque"style . The Town Hall is a majestic building which once hosted free laser shows in the eighties while the city orchestra played beneath, in the days of Jan Michelle Jarre. Looting also affected places such as Pinetown and Umbilo . I don't know the Sea Cow Lake area but there were a number of arson attacks on factory and business premises. Shopping precincts in some suburbs were completely vandalised and stripped of almost every item in the complexes. Items stolen by looters include warehouse goods, electrical and luxury items, furniture, and sugar. Umhlanga has suffered a devastating chemical spill and wildlife has been affected and this is thought to be directly linked to damage caused to a warehouse. Reports state that all Durban beaches North of Umgeni estuary are closed.

West Australia - winter photo of Mukinbudinin July

photograph by D.Quirke, taken one week before the cold front.