Authorities have not yet declared a state of emergency, but widespread violence shows no sign of stopping as the death toll increases dramatically.
Crowds clashed with police and ransacked or burned shopping malls in South Africa, with dozens killed as grievances unleashed by the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma boiled over into the nation's worst violence in years.
Security officials said the government was working to halt the spread of the violence and looting, which has so far ranged from Mr Zuma's home in KwaZulu-Natal province to Gauteng province, home to the country's biggest city Johannesburg. "No amount of unhappiness or personal circumstances from our people gives the right to anyone to loot, vandalise and do as they please and break the law," Police Minister Bheki Cele told a news conference, echoing sentiments expressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Troops were moving into flashpoints on Tuesday as outnumbered police seemed helpless to stop the unrest. Columns of armoured personnel carriers rolled down highways. Protesters have ransacked malls and looted from shops that were abandoned by their owners who fled the violence.Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, speaking at the same news conference, said she did not think a state of emergency should be imposed yet.
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