BALFOUR – South African township protesters yesterday hurled stones at police, who fired back teargas and rubber bullets, after thousands marched in a show of anger at poor services and a lack of jobs.
The spread of violent protests has piled pressure on President Jacob Zuma to deliver on government promises of help for the poor three months after elections. They have intensified uncertainty after a wave of strikes in Africas biggest economy.
The unrest, with scenes reminiscent of violence against foreigners last year that killed 62 people, also undermined South Africa’s hope of showing a positive image with less than a year to go before the soccer World Cup.
“This was always going to be a problem for Jacob Zuma, a pro-poor government coming to power at the height of the global recession,” independent analyst Nic Borain said. “This is going to be the real challenge for Jacob Zuma and his government . . . I don’t think it is a crisis . . . but I think it is a challenge.”
Protesters pelted cars with stones and blocked a highway near Johannesburg. At Siyathemba township, 90km (55 miles) southeast of the city, protesters demanding jobs and better schools clashed with police and threatened the local mayor.
While anger was largely directed at local officials, there was also unhappiness with the government of the ruling African National Congress, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994.
“This government is rotten to the core,” said Bongani Mazibuko, who has been unemployed for years. Poor South Africans complain they have not seen the benefits since white minority rule ended. Mr Zuma pledged to do more to help them as the main plank of the ANC’s election manifesto. However, the government is limited by South Africa’s first recession in 17 years, as a result of the global crisis, and is wary of any policies that might discourage local or foreign investment.
Trade unions, whose support was instrumental in Mr Zuma’s rise to power, have been flexing their muscles since he took office, with stoppages to demand more pay and threats of strikes in the world’s top platinum producer, also an important gold miner.
Protests turned violent for a second day in Johannesburg’s Thokoza township, where residents are demanding better housing and services. Thirty-five residents are due to appear in court.
Residents in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, occupied farmland in invasions similar of those in neighbouring Zimbabwe. They were protesting at being evicted from their temporary settlement. – (Reuters)