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South Africans urged to unite against counter-revolutionary violence as more than 100 killed in unrest

SOUTH Africans have been urged to “forge broad unity in defence of our democracy” amid ongoing violence that has caused more than 100 deaths in the wake of the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma.

The African National Congress, South African Communist Party and Congress of South African Trade Unions convened an emergency meeting of the Alliance Political Council (APC) on Thursday.

It called on the state to strengthen efforts to stop the violence and restore stability, demanding those responsible be brought to justice.

“The counter-revolutionary offensive manifested by violence, looting, destruction and economic sabotage must be stopped immediately. 

“South Africa must focus on democratic transformation and development by advancing economic reconstruction and recovery to achieve transformation and inclusive growth,” a statement from the APC said.

Some 25,000 soldiers have been deployed onto the streets of South Africa to deal with the unrest, with at least 117 killed in a week of violence.

Mr Zuma started a 15-month sentence last week for contempt of court after failing to appear at a corruption hearing.

The APC condemned reports of racial tension and violence, particularly in the eThekwini metropolitan area, KZN Province, and called for immediate intervention by the leadership and security services.

It also denounced racial profiling reported to be taking place at some shopping centres in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Non-racial national unity is essential, now and forever. The attempts at fuelling racial tensions are aimed at perpetuating lawlessness. 

“We call on all South Africans to unite to defeat any attempts at sowing racial and ethnic divisions,” the APN said.

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