Photo: Google Maps
Photo: Google Maps
South Africa’s week of riots and looting shows no signs of slowing down, as more destruction was reported on Wednesday. A spate of overnight violence saw more businesses ransacked, as locals desperately try to protect their communities in Gauteng and KZN respectively. However, a new way to monitor these flare-ups has now been mapped.
The protests, which began with a political element before evolving into an orgy of opportunism, have now spread as far as the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga. South Africa, forever the proverbial powder-keg, seems to have finally blown its lid, some 27 years into the democratic era. At least 72 people are believed to have been killed in the past few days.
The fiery demonstrations which began in KZN soon spilled over into Gauteng, without ever subsiding. The main business hub of South Africa has been crippled by the riots, as looters take their chances in a majority of towns and suburbs. There is, however, some hope that the public can keep themselves safe – thanks to a creative bit of geography.
The map of Gauteng’s riot hot-spots identifies over 100 areas that have experienced violence, or are likely to encounter more flare-ups in the future. There are plenty of ‘ongoing incidents’ to report, as well. As well as highlighting ‘no-go areas’, this interactive map also illuminates the regions where unrest has been recently detected.