- The unrest in South Africa could affect the region.
- The African Union Commission has condemned the violence.
- Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for the restoration of peace.
The unrest in South Africa could have an impact on the region, the African Union Commission has warned.
The commission condemned the unrest in parts of the country in a statement.
Violent protests initially broke out in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, fuelled by calls to free former president Jacob Zuma from prison. Zuma is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of a Constitutional Court order.
Violent looting continued into Tuesday night in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Incidents of mass violence and looting of businesses have taken place, along with the destruction of public and private infrastructure.
'Appalling scenes'
More than 1 200 people have been arrested for public violence and economic sabotage.
In a statement, African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat spoke out against "the surge of violence that has resulted in the deaths of civilians and appalling scenes of the looting of public and private property".
Mahamat also condemned the destruction of infrastructure and the violence that had necessitated the suspension of essential services in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
"The chairperson extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a rapid and full recovery to the wounded," the statement read.
"The chairperson calls for [the] urgent restoration of order, peace and stability in the country in full respect of the rule of law. He stresses that failure to do so can have grave impacts not only in the country, but the region as a whole."
Mahamat added that the government and people of South Africa had the "full and unwavering solidarity of the African Union Commission".