South Africa: Police deployed amid looting and riots following jailing of former president

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Police officers and firefighters were deployed in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg on Monday to stem widespread rioting following the jailing of former South African President Jacob Zuma.

The country has seen several days of violence in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The unrest was sparked off by burning trucks in the KwaZulu-Natal, before spreading to Johannesburg with roads blocked and widespread damage. 

At least six people have been killed as riots intensified with police deploying water cannons and firing rubber bullets onto looters. Firefighters were extinguishing blazes set by protesters.

Violent protests have spread across South Africa, following the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma last Wednesday. Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in jail for contempt of court, after failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. His legal team hope to reduce his sentence in the Constitutional Court.

President Cyril Ramaphosa urged protesters to "express themselves within the law" as he called for calm on Saturday.