Riots have been raging in South Africa for some time now. These riots started after the arrest of former President of the country, Jacob Zuma. The outbreak of riots can be seen in many major cities of South Africa like Durban, Johannesburg, Phoenix etc. However, the purpose of mentioning this development happening in the foreign country is that many people from South Gujarat and especially Surat in South Africa have gone in search of employment and they have been victims of these riots on a large scale.
According to a report in Times of India, there are many names like Surat businessman Abdul Patel, Asif Patel, Afroz Patel, Saeed of Bharuch, Salwaruddin Patel who have been victims of riots and have suffered loss of their business, property. According to the report, Abdul Patel is a resident of Limbayat in Surat and has been living in Durban city of South Africa for the last two decades. According to him, he has never seen such violent and serious situations in his life, which is visible from the last days.
Mass looting breaks out in South Africa. pic.twitter.com/iV7seQvgz2
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 13, 2021
The families of migrants living in Surat and South Gujarat, who are earning a living living in South Africa, are worried about their life and property.
Significantly, there are about one million people of Indian origin living in Durban and a large number of them are from Gujarat. These people of Indian origin have suffered a lot in the riots. The rioters have looted the houses and workplaces of these people. Yasin Patel, one of these victims, faced such situations that in the middle of the night, he had to save his life by crossing the border by stealing a rented car. He is currently taking refuge in Lusaka, Zambia.