July 2021 Unrest: Lessons for a nation striving to rebuild

In mid-July 2021, South Africa experienced one of its most severe episodes of socio-political unrest in recent history.
The violent protests, rampant looting and widespread destruction of private and public properties, primarily in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng, left a deep scar on the nation.
As South Africa reflects on the aftermath of this dark chapter, Dr Bhasela Yalezo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Business and Leadership shared his insights on the economic factors that drove the violence and looting.
Furthermore, he shared his thoughts on the current situation, and the necessary steps the government should take to prevent such an event from happening again.
According to Yalezo, there were two main drivers behind the violence and looting.
"One being opportunistic, two the confusion that might have been created politically," he explains.
He further adds, "But also because of the desperate situation where they find themselves because some thought they might be getting food, some thought they were getting assets which they will not normally buy.
It also opened the door to opportunistic people who were not in need of anything who involved themselves in the situation."
Regarding the economic changes since the unrest, Yalezo highlights that the poverty dynamics and struggles faced by South Africans have not improved.

Yalezo also notes the impact on businesses, saying, "Some of those businesses which were looted were not able to recover."
Yalezo emphasises the need for the government to address the underlying grievances and frustrations that led to the unrest, particularly among marginalised communities. "Definitely, we need to improve our intelligence," he asserts.