July 2021 riots: a scar on South Africa's conscience

July 2025 marks the fourth anniversary of the shameful, horrific, and disastrous 2021 riots and unrest—a time of great pain and anxiety. South Africa was mired in shame and criminality, and fear gripped many.

This catastrophe resulted in lawlessness, looting of immense proportions, anarchy, arson, and many deaths, mainly of innocent lives.

In addition, many businesses closed and never recovered, hundreds of jobs were lost, and buildings and infrastructure were damaged and destroyed, totalling millions of rand.

Sadly, to date, only “small fry” have been apprehended and tried for the heinous acts.

The instigators and main culprits—the plotters, planners, and kingpins—remain at large and roam free, instead of being behind bars for long periods.

This is a recurring thing in Mzansi as crooks and fraudsters abound and carry on with impunity. They appear to be “above the law” or are being protected by corrupt politicians and police.

Shame on our incompetent and dithering President Cyril Ramaphosa and the then-useless loudmouth Minister of Police Bheki Cele for allowing this disaster to continue for days on end, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Shame also on the SAPS, who lacked crime intelligence and stood by while many parts of the country suffered during the rioting, unrest, looting, and arson, and accompanying deaths and violence.

Kudos to the private security companies and neighbourhood members, as well as some businesses, who helped to repel some crooks and looters.

Thanks also to those altruistic persons and organisations that offered food, water, baby nappies, medication, and formula to the needy, especially noting the forced closure of businesses.

So the looters and arsonists did their dastardly deeds in protest at the imprisonment of that “shameless, shady, tainted, and allegedly corrupt geriatric from Nkandla.”

What a load of nonsense this assertion is! These persons are pure thieves and criminals who should, even now, be hunted down, apprehended, tried, and put in prison. Only then will justice prevail and law and order—a pivot of civilisation—be restored.

Such mayhem and criminality must never again be allowed to be repeated—God forbid. Evil will never overcome good, and surely light will follow darkness.

Viva Mzansi viva.

SIMON T DEHAL| Verulam