The protests, which started two weeks ago over former president Jacob Zuma's jailing, escalated into turned into arson and looting across the country.

“Since the unrests, a total of 234 deaths as a related to the unrests were reported in KZN. To date and of these reported deaths, the SAPS are investigating 151 cases for murder and 83 inquests dockets have been opened and 15 arrests related to the cases of murder,” said Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, acting minister in the presidency.

“A total of 42 deaths as a related to the unrests were reported in GP. To date and of these reported deaths, the SAPS are investigating 17 cases for murder and 25 inquests dockets have been opened and no arrests have been made as yet related to the cases of murder,” he added.

More than half of South Africa's population lives in poverty, with an unemployment rate of 32%. According to the World Bank income inequality has increased since 1994 in South Africa.