JOHANNESBURG: Six people have been killed and 219 were arrested in the midst of rising violence during riots after the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma, police said Monday.
Military soldiers will be deployed to help the police put out violence, said the South African national defense.
Police said shops and business had been looted and damaged.
Traffic has been disturbed by the rioters of the main road barricade with tires and trucks burned, while the car has been attacked.
Violence was triggered last week when Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for the insults of the court.
He has opposed the court order to testify before the investigation supported by the government investigated corruption allegations during his tenure as President of 2009 to 2018.
The Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court will hear Zuma’s appeal to punishment on Monday.
Riots by Zuma supporters began in their home region of KwaZulu-Natal Province last week and during the weekend spread to Gauteng Province, which included Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa.
The death of four in Gauteng and two in KwaZulu-natal _ seems to be caused by chaos and police being investigating, police said Colonel Brenda Muridili.
Police and national security forces have expanded their presence in both provinces to help extinguish violence, the statement said.
The level of damage to property and business will be determined at the next stage, police said.
The police have warned that anyone who uses social media to encourage riots can be captured and demanded.