At least two people are said to have been fatally shot following renewed unrest in Pretoria’s (Tshwane) Mabopane township, in South Africa, on 22 June. The shootings are not currently believed to have been related to clashes between police and protesters on the day, wherein security forces reportedly used rubber bullets to disperse groups of looters.
An official investigation into the killings has been launched. Meanwhile, at least 40 people have been arrested in connection to the ransacking of foreign-owned shops in the area. Tensions remain elevated in Mabopane following the unrest and associated violence; a heavy police presence is expected to remain in the area for the immediate-term.
Analysis
The aforementioned unrest followed significant agitations in the greater City of Tshwane Metropolitan area since late 20 June. Factional disputes over the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s mayoral candidate for the 3 August local elections triggered violent and disruptive protests in a number of townships in and around the city of Pretoria, including Atteridgeville, Hercules, Mabopane, Mamelodi and Soshanguve, on 20 and 21 June.
Source
BREXIT: Rand Plummets, Cameron Resigns but No Zuxit for Zuma
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced – in an emotional speech outside his Downing Street residence – that he will step down in October, following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (EU). See video below.
The Leave campaign won 52 percent of the vote, sending shock waves around the world and causing currencies to plummet – including South Africa’s Rand which fell more than on the day President Zuma fired finance minister Nhlanhla Nene. At that time, the Rand fell by 5 percent. Last night it dropped 7.8 percent.
By 8.30am Friday, the Rand was 6.77 percent down at R15.57 to the dollar, and up 1.52 percent against the pound at R21.23.
Meanwhile, in other news, the bid by the South African president’s lawyers and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to appeal the #SpyTapes ruling that Jacob Zuma face corruption charges has been dismissed with costs, causing some on Twitter to coin the phrase “No #Zuxit for Zuma”. The High Court in Pretoria announced this morning it has dismissed his leave to appeal.
Shortly afterwards opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), tweeted: “The prosecution against President Zuma must proceed & he must have his day in court as he has always claimed he wanted.”
Source
SITUATION REPORT: NDA DENIES CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT; NEW GROUP EMERGES IN IMO STATE
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has denied reports that it has entered into a 30-day ceasefire with the government. The ceasefire announcement was made on 21 June by at least two government officials.
Elsewhere, a new Niger Delta militant group, the Niger Delta Red Squad (NDRS), has reportedly emerged in Imo state. The group has claimed recent attacks against pipelines managed by Elf Oil Company in the Awarra area of the state and has threatened further attacks, including against Shell pipelines in the Oguta area. It has also warned oil companies to evacuate all their workers.
Analysis
The NDA is a non-state armed group which has been implicated in or claimed numerous attacks against oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta in 2016. The most recent associated attack was reported on 16 June in the Oruk Anam area in Akwa Ibom state. The NDA is demanding a greater share of the oil income generated by the government in the Niger Delta and has threatened to continue agitating until these demands are met. NDA activity has been most pronounced in Bayelsa and Delta states, where it’s largely non-fatal sabotage operations have been reported.
Source
SITUATION REPORT: CONVICTION OF OPPOSITION LEADER INCREASES DRC UNREST THREAT
There is an elevated threat of unrest in Lubumbashi, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s southern Katanga province, following a local court’s 22 June decision to sentence popular opposition figure and presidential candidate, Moise Katumbi, to three years in prison. Katumbi, who is currently outside of the country receiving medical treatment, was indicted on charges relating to the sale of a house that he allegedly did not own. Katumbi’s supporters have accused the court of failing to follow due process, given that he was charged in absentia. Moreover, they assert that the judgement serves as the government’s latest move to prevent Katumbi from contesting the country’s 2016 presidential elections. Although Katumbi intends to appeal the ruling, this development may serve to catalyse opposition unrest in the city the near-term.
Analysis
This is the second time that Katumbi has faced criminal allegations in recent months. Significant unrest was triggered in Lubumbashi in mid-May when he was indicted on charges relating to the employment of mercenaries.
Source
SITUATION REPORT: PROTESTS IN PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
At least two people are said to have been fatally shot following renewed unrest in Pretoria’s (Tshwane) Mabopane township, in South Africa, on 22 June. The shootings are not currently believed to have been related to clashes between police and protesters on the day, wherein security forces reportedly used rubber bullets to disperse groups of looters.
An official investigation into the killings has been launched. Meanwhile, at least 40 people have been arrested in connection to the ransacking of foreign-owned shops in the area. Tensions remain elevated in Mabopane following the unrest and associated violence; a heavy police presence is expected to remain in the area for the immediate-term.
Analysis
The aforementioned unrest followed significant agitations in the greater City of Tshwane Metropolitan area since late 20 June. Factional disputes over the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s mayoral candidate for the 3 August local elections triggered violent and disruptive protests in a number of townships in and around the city of Pretoria, including Atteridgeville, Hercules, Mabopane, Mamelodi and Soshanguve, on 20 and 21 June.
Source