Socio-economic Effect of Violence and Growing Social Unrest in South Africa: Lessons from July 2021 Protests

The study examined the socio-economic effect of violence and growing social unrest in South Africa's development, particularly focusing on the recent Free Zuma protest, the violence that occurred in most parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Following the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma for contempt of court. Using secondary data, the study attributed this violent act to include the frustrations of hungry and cold people whose prospects were already hampered by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and rising inequality between the rich and poor; high level of unemployment; intra-party tensions; ANC-factionalism; stereotypical Zulu nationalism; and racial tensions in South Africa. The riots in KwaZulu-Natal were accompanied by crimes such as looting; torching of private and public assets; and, to a greater extent, civilian homicide. The findings of the study indicated that the riots in KwaZulu-Natal provinces resulted in human (in)security; poverty aggravation; food and fuel shortages; consequences on the health sector (amid the violence); loss of lives; and an increase in unemployment.