Soldiers have been deployed on the streets of Johannesburg to try and contain widespread looting and rioting.
The violence followed the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma for 15 months last week for contempt of court.
However, Sky News Africa correspondent John Sparks, who is in Johannesburg, said poverty and economic disparity caused by the COVID pandemic was also a factor in the disorder.
Several upmarket shopping centres along with small businesses were ransacked.
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