South African leader says calm has been restored to most places

FILE PHOTO: Community members monitor access to a suburb after several days of looting following the imprisonment of former South Africa President Jacob Zuma, in Durban, South Africa, July 15, 2021. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday the unrest that has ripped through South Africa in the past week was stabilising and calm has been restored to most of the affected areas, but the destruction will cost the country billions of rand.

Ramaphosa was addressing the nation over the rioting that broke out in several parts of the country last week after his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, was jailed for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry.