South Africa riots: At least 72 killed, over 1,000 arrested amid worst violence in decades

At least 72 people have been killed and 1,234 others have been arrested in ongoing riots across South Africa, police said.

LONDON and PRETORIA -- At least 72 people have been killed in ongoing riots across South Africa, despite the efforts of heavily outnumbered authorities to quell the violent unrest sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. The South African Police Service said in a statement Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 27 in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal and to 45 in the economic hub of Gauteng province, with many of the fatalities occurring in "stampedes" as scores of people looted food, liquor, clothes and electrical appliances from shops in poor areas. Other deaths were caused by explosions when people tried to break into ATM machines as well as shootings, according to police. At least one police officer was killed in an attack on law enforcement, while seven others were injured while responding to the riots, police said. So far, 1,234 people have been arrested, according to police, but the chaos has continued. Looters were seen ransacking warehouses and supermarkets in the port city of Durban on Tuesday, while rioters set fire to a chemical plant near the town of Umhlanga, just north of Durban.