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Riots in South Africa worsen.
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Rioters flee police (AP Photo)
Standerton, South Africa - Rioting in the South African town of Standerton has intensified and spread to at least four other towns. The center of the violence, Standerton, is a highly impoverished community located about 90 miles southeast of Johannesburg. The protests turned violent due to the perception of governmental inaction regarding the improvement of their lives and economic conditions following the April elections.
Many of the protestors voted for the African National Congress, the political party that ended apartheid, out of loyalty and because of the promises the candidates made regarding the provision of houses, jobs, and other life value enhancing actions. Thus far, none of the promised actions have come to fruition for the residents of the Standerton area and other equally suffering communities.
Police have used rubber bullets and tear gas in attempt to disperse the rioters in a less than lethal manner. Yet, in spite of their efforts injuries are occurring as an inevitable consequence of the clashes. Residents, who do have jobs, are not reporting for work out of fear to leave their homes and local businesses are suffering due to manpower shortages and the significantly reduced numbers of consumers. The fears come from the violence and destruction inflicted by the hordes of rioters.
The political leaders, who were voted into office by the now protesting poor, have admitted that they were not expecting the problems they have encountered during the country’s first significant recession in two decades. Government representatives continue to ask for patience from the masses of angry citizens but time is a luxury few have when people are living in shacks, lacking basic utilities, and going hungry.
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