The world seemed a much quieter, calmer place when Donald Trump was president, highlighted by the fact that while there was still conflict, his administration managed to help historic enemies make peace -- in the Balkans and in the restive Middle East.
As freedom protests erupt in Cuba and police there begin to clamp down in an effort to protect the ruling, tyrannical Communist regime, violence of a different sort is raging in South Africa, where race-related troubles have simmered and, at times boiled over, in recent years.
Notes The Epoch Times:
Authorities in South Africa said that rioting and looting continued on Tuesday, with the death toll rising to 32 as the military and police have struggled to deal with the violence across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces.
The violence appeared to have been sparked by former President Jacob Zuma’s arrest for being in contempt of court, starting with protests over the decision. That later turned into looting and rioting, as video footage showed agitators and rioters blocking traffic and setting vehicles and buildings on fire.
Not that the former white-dominated Apartheid government was a good thing, but South Africa was at least stable then -- so much so that the government managed to develop a handful of nuclear weapons all on its own and without the world knowing it. The only reason it became known was because the outgoing Apartheid government acknowledged that it had such weapons and turned them over to be dismantled.
A later report from the New York Post put the death toll at more than 45.
"Shocking videos showed hundreds of people swarming through shopping districts and climbing up through almost completely empty shelves. Some malls were even torched," the report said.
And as in America, there are South Africans who view the violence and destruction with disdain.
“So uneccesary. So uncalled for,” said one person said as they took videos of burning cars in the street and shopping areas that were “absolutely destroyed.”
KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala said many of the deaths occurred as people got trampled underfoot while scores of South Africans raced to loot, steal, and burn.
“Yesterday’s events brought a lot of sadness. The number of people who have died in KwaZulu-Natal alone stands at 26. Many of them died from being trampled on during a stampede while people were looting items,” said Zikalala on Monday.
“No amount of unhappiness or personal circumstances from our people gives the right to anyone to loot, vandalize, and do as they please and break the law,” added Police Minister Bheki Cele at a news conference.
In one remarkable video, armed civilians, many of whom are white, fire upon rioters along a major thoroughfare.
https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/1414581907581456384
There were many other instances of similar violence as civilians took it upon themselves to protect their lives and their property from rioting -- so much so, in fact, that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa "said he would be deploying the country’s military in a bid to restore order following the days of violence," The Epoch Times added.
“We will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who perpetrate these actions and ensure they face the full might of the law,” Ramaphosa told his citizens in a national address on Monday. “It is this rule of law that enables our society to function and our economy to develop in the interests of the people of South Africa.”
But it's not completely the fault of the people, per se: Unemployment in South Africa is at dire proportions, with nearly 33 percent of the available workforce jobless.
That has added the sense of hopelessness and desperation, reports said.
Still, Police Minister Bheki Cele declared that no one could be permitted to “make a mockery of our democratic state.”
“No amount of unhappiness or personal circumstances from our people gives the right to anyone to loot,” he said.
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