In the last couple of weeks, South Africa’s major political parties have begun publishing their manifestos and candidate lists and positioning themselves for the municipal elections set for 3 August. At the same time, protests against the economic and political situation have continued across the country.

The increase in protests – combined with a history of violence, structural inequality and growing frustration with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) – leads many to question whether South Africa would maintain its tradition of peaceful elections in August.

Apart from some threatening behaviour directed at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) during the national elections of 2014, election violence does not have deep roots in South Africa. That said, protest has become a part of daily life, increasing since 2010 (see Figure 1). These protests are linked to service delivery, demarcation, labour, university fees and staffing – and, since last year, protests directly calling for the resignation of President Jacob Zuma.

The mobilisation of protest and its coverage are increasingly politicised. The South African Broadcasting Commission (SABC) recently announced that it will no longer air stories about violent protest, with the intent to reduce publicity of the perpetrators and instigators. This decision provoked widespread criticism, with many saying it amounted to outright censorship. Although there can be little doubt that a copycat effect exists and that scenes of violence and outrage may serve to instigate the same elsewhere, social media can readily bypass efforts at media control.

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Results of a referendum in the United Kingdom on Thursday to leave the European Union shocked markets across the globe, with over $2 trillion wipe out in a single day. African economies were not spared the volatility that the Brexit vote caused on different asset classes. Currencies, stocks and bonds plunged across the continent after the UK’s vote to leave.

Africa’s largest economies – that have been struggling with commodity prices rout – were the most affected as investors anticipated a slowdown in inflows as a rush to safe havens like the US markets and precious metals like gold ensured.

Brexit has also caused uncertainty over the future of trade relations between the UK and Africa.

Here is how some African markets reacted after the Brexit referendum:

South Africa

South Africa was the most affected market in Africa by the Brexit outcome due to its strong ties with the European economy. In 2015, South Africa sent 23 percent of its manufactured exports to Europe including the UK and 36 percent of its agricultural exports.

At the Johannesburg Stocks Exchange the benchmark share index fell the most since May 2010 to a third weekly decline, led by stocks with listings in London and by diversified mining companies, Bloomberg reported.

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