Riots in South Africa could lead to environmental disaster

An activist on Friday warned the South African government against environmental disasters in the port city of Durban and other parts of the country.

During recent large-scale mayhem and mob violence, numerous chemicals were spilled into nearby waters from a warehouse that set on fire, killing fish and other aquatic animals on a large scale.

Thandile Chinyavanhu of Greenpeace Africa called for an immediate investigation and clarification on the nature of pesticides and other chemicals.

“We don’t have clarity at this point. We definitely need to know the extensive list of chemicals and the potential impact they could have when they interact together in the environment,” Chinyavanhu said.

Pesticides and other chemicals blending together in the water could form a dangerous mix, Chinyavanhu added.

The water has strong turquoise color and smells extremely like sulfur.

Poor air quality was also a concern for residents amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng province was rocked by riots, looting, and vandalism for about a week starting on July 9.

Some 337 people were killed.

Major highways and rail routes were shut down, leading to shortages of food and fuel, while businesses were plundered and burnt.

Protests initially broke out over the imprisonment of the ex-president, Jacob Zuma, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal.

He was given 15 months in prison for contempt of court in relation to a corruption inquiry.

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But the demonstrations soon descended into arson and gunfire, with vigilance groups forming to protect property.

Helping to fuel the violence was frustration over the swelling unemployment rate and economic inequality, long-running problems exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.