’We will defeat the invisible enemy’ - says South Africa's Ramaphosa at cleanup

Record ID: 1627265

  • Title: ’We will defeat the invisible enemy’ - says South Africa's Ramaphosa at cleanup
  • Date: 18th July 2021
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 18, 2021) (REUTERS) POLICE AND SECURITY ESCORTING RAMAPHOSA OUT OF THE MALL PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND RAMAPHOSA / MILITARY SOLDIERS MONITORING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, SAYING: "We were infiltrated, there were people who came in - this invisible enemy that we are fighting - which we must continue to fight and defeat. And I can say we are going to defeat them because they are not equal to the strength that we have in relation to young people like you, our government, our security forces and the people of Soweto, and the people of South Africa." VARIOUS OF RAMAPHOSA LEAVING THE MALL POLICE AND SOLDIERS MONITORING PRESIDENTIAL MOTORCADE DRIVING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2021 16:01
  • Keywords: Cleanup Damage Ramaphosa Riot South Africa Zuma
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Africa,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003EMDB7LZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:South African President Cyril Ramaphosa joined a cleanup on Sunday (July 18), sweeping away rubble and trash after rioting resulted in city damage.
    Handout footage from national broadcaster SABC showed Ramaphosa surrounded by people, saying, "the government will defeat the invisible enemy that has infiltrated the country."
    The rioting broke out the past week in response to the jailing of ex-President Jacob Zuma for his failure to appear at a corruption inquiry.
    It swiftly degenerated into looting and destruction, driven by widespread anger over the hardship and inequality that nearly three decades of democracy since the end of apartheid have failed to address.
    The military called up all its reservists to bolster the army and police who have struggled to contain the unrest.
    In the past few days of protests, 161 malls and shopping centers, 11 warehouses, eight factories, and 161 liquor outlets were damaged.
    (Production: Sisipho Skweyiya)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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