*Walmart Incorporated-owned Massmart Holdings, mobile-phone giants Vodacom Group and MTN Group Limited, banks and retailers, among others shutter outlets, as violent protests linked to the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma escalate in the country

*Looting and destruction of property have emptied the shelves of grocery stores and closed major roads in the country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As the national currency Rand declines with intense riots fast compounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, South Africa鈥檚 largest companies have fallen victim to violent attacks and were among those entities forced to halt operations in the country.

Some of the worst protests since the end of White Minority rule erupted in several parts of the country, with rioters torching trucks and looting stores, agency report said.

It was gathered the Southern African country鈥檚 biggest four lenders, led by Standard Bank Group Limited and FirstRand Limited all closed branches in KwaZulu-Natal, the province at the heart of the violent unrest.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma

Similarly, in the economic hub of Gauteng, the companies said in e-mailed responses to questions Monday, July 12, 2021, reports Bloomberg.

Walmart Incorporated-owned Massmart Holdings Limited and mobile-phone giants Vodacom Group Limited and MTN Group Limited were among others to shutter outlets, while the latter is running its main call centre at minimal capacity.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited also closed all its drugstores in KwaZulu-Natal, hampering South Africa鈥檚 COVID-19 testing and vaccine rollout, according to text messages sent to consumers.

Smaller shops across downtown Johannesburg closed as looters roamed the streets, while the affluent Rosebank Mall near the city鈥檚 financial hub of Sandton shut early as a precaution, report said.

Business leaders are calling on authorities to quell the violence that has escalated since the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma last week, with the army being deployed to help police.

Report also indicates the looting and destruction of property have emptied the shelves of grocers and closed major roads in the country, including the N3 highway between the port city of Durban and Johannesburg.

At least six people have died to date, according to Police.

Trudi Makhaya, an Economic Adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, in webinar by the World Bank, said of the current crisis, that 聽鈥渨e are doing all we can to ensure that the disruptions are minimized.

鈥淥f course, that begins with arresting criminals, intervening in those hotspots where we鈥檙e seeing challenges.鈥�

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