Oliver Meth
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is taking the stand at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) National Investigative Hearing into the July 2021 unrest that shook the country.
The president is testifying with regards to his responsibility as the Head of State during the riots in July.
A total of 337 people died during the riots and it is estimated that the violence and related looting cost the South African economy about 3,433 255,00USD ((R50bn).
Ramaphosa joins a number of politicians that have appeared before the hearing panel and given testimonies of the events that took place in July.
Last month, the SAHRC continued its hearings into the July unrest. It was the second leg of the hearing, which focused on how events unfolded in the Gauteng province during the unrest and also featured the continuation of evidence from the KwaZulu Natal sitting.
The hearing panel was due to hear testimonies from survivors, various community members, as well as industry players in commerce, private security and state officials.
The commission said the subject of the hearing was a matter of national concern and implicated various rights such as the right to security, the right to be free from all forms of violence, the right not to have one’s possessions seized and the right to life.
