In South Africa, the deployment of military troops will help contain the immediate turmoil following former President Jacob Zuma’s controversial arrest. But a larger security presence on the ground will also risk triggering additional clashes with Zuma’s supporters, which would only reinforce their perception that his detainment was politically motivated. On July 12, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announced the deployment of troops to the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to contain the widespread unrest, which has so far resulted in six deaths and more than 200 arrests. In the days following Zuma’s July 7 arrest, looting and vandalism have been most prominent in the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, home to Zuma and his ethnic Zulu supporters. The disorder has caused some basic services, like medical centers, to suspend or limit operations. Such disruptions come as South Africa is grappling with a third major COVID-19 wave, and...
