Four Somalis die in South Africa as Zuma supporters clash with police
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THE CAP – At least four Somali nationals have been killed in South Africa and their businesses destroyed as supporters of jailed former president Jacob Zuma continued to terrorize businesses in the country, which has yet to cure xenophobic attacks.
State media claim the four were killed by rowdy henchmen who are believed to be supporting the former president, who is in jail for contempt of court, and could remain in a state correctional facility for the next 15 month. Zuma faces corruption charges.
In addition, state media added, at least two other Somalis were seriously injured and are receiving treatment at one of South Africa’s medical centers. They were all attacked by random thugs in different provinces of South Africa.
“Four Somali citizens have been killed, two others seriously injured, one is still missing and around 20 shops owned by Somali nationals have been looted during the unrest in South Africa in the past 72 hours,” media reported Somali states.
“Four Somali citizens have been killed, two others seriously injured and one still missing in South African unrest in Zulu soil, KZN, families and friends have confirmed.”
There are a lot of Somali immigrants in South Africa, most of whom are established business people. They own businesses all over the country, but the exact number could not be established as they are scattered throughout South Africa.
In previous years, they have been the target of xenophobic attacks that have also ravaged the South African nation, which is barely 30 years since the defeat of the minority apartheid rulers. Several people were killed in 2019 as a result of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
On June 29, the Constitutional Court slapped Zuma with jail time for refusing to appear before a corruption investigation that has bogged down his nine years in power. Zuma is calling for the ruling to be overturned on the grounds that it was made in his absence, AFP reported.
On Monday, the court was due to hear comments from Zuma’s teams on his release, with analysts arguing that his continued incarceration would further plunge the country into serious chaos.
If the offer fails, Zuma’s team will seek to convince the judges that the prison sentence is not the appropriate sentence for this contempt case, for reasons such as the implications for Zuma’s health, according to one. briefing for court media on Saturday.
Zuma, 79, is also asking to be released from Estcourt prison in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal due to his age and poor health, adding that the ongoing pandemic means he does not pose a risk. leak.
The man once nicknamed the “President of Teflon,” spent his first night in jail Thursday after surrendering to authorities after hours of drama and suspense.
His lawyers had also asked the High Court in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal to avoid imprisonment. But on Friday, he dismissed the case, saying he had no jurisdiction over the matter and that Zuma’s claims about his health were “not supported by any evidence.”
The former president testified once before the commission in July 2019, but then quickly withdrew his cooperation, saying he was offended to be treated as an “accused” and not as a witness.
He returned in November 2020, without saying a word, and missed several subsequent appointments by evading his summons for various reasons, including medical reasons, lack of funds and his request to have the commission chair, so Vice-President of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. , recuse himself.
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