It has been labelled as South Africa’s worst episode of civil unrest since the days of apartheid. The rioting that occurred following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma for contempt of court on July 7—specifically, for failing to show up for an official inquiry into his alleged corruption during his nine-year presidency—has been among the darkest chapters in the country’s recent history.
Gerbrandt van Heerden is the Deputy Head of Research at the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA). One of his key tasks is to oversee the production process of the CRA’s Macro Review – a monthly report which provides a deep-dive analysis of the major trends shaping South Africa. These reports have allowed him to build extensive knowledge of the socio-economic situation in the country. He temporarily served as a lecturer for the North-West University (NWU) and volunteered for six months as a radio presenter at GaySA Radio – Africa’s first LGBT+ radio station. Gerbrandt holds a BA Degree in Communication studies and a Master’s Degree in Political Sciences from NWU.
South Africa’s slow vaccination rate risks permanently damaging one of the country’s few thriving economic sectors – the tourism industry.
There is growing evidence that the biggest issue facing South Africa is not racial inequality, but rather class and geographical inequality.
The majority of South Africans are more concerned about unemployment and corruption than the COVID-19 pandemic.