DA questions the HRC report on the July unrest
30 January 2024
The DA acknowledges the South African Human Rights Commission's report on the riots primarily in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng that occurred two and a half years ago.
This catastrophic event resulted in the burning of 40 000 businesses and 50 000 informal traders' outlets, leaving 150 000 people unemployed and causing an estimated financial damage of R50 billion. The report, released after an extensive period, meticulously outlines the chaos and underlying causes that led to this devastating incident.
While the report acknowledges President Zuma's imprisonment and the subsequent riots between July 8 and 19, 2021, as acts of protest, violence, and looting that spread across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the DA finds the conclusion drawn by the SAHRC to be perplexing. Specifically, the assertion that there is no evidence linking the timing of the events to Zuma's incarceration appears unfounded and contradicts the experiences of those who witnessed the events firsthand.