South Africa reels under violence, rioting: First-hand account of turmoil on the ground

South Africa is reeling under violence after rioters took to the streets following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma. His foundation said there would be no peace in South Africa until the former president was released from jail.

The situation in South Africa is worsening day after day with government agencies struggling to bring the violence under control. Gun-toting looters and rioters have taken over the streets of Durban, Johannesburg and several other parts of the country. The violence and rioting, which has claimed over 70 lives, is in response to the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma. There is complete "lawlessness" in South Africa. The scenes on the roads have turned chaotic and "we have taken matters into our hands [to] safeguard the community, our houses and a couple of supermarkets. A third-generation Indian living in South Africa, I had not imagined that we will face such a crisis where police will stand watch as rioters and looters wreak havoc," said Swasti Maney Singh, a public relations officer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, who spoke to IndiaToday.in on the situation in the country.