Former President Thabo Mbeki has warned of anti-government protests similar to the 2010 Arab Spring. He said unemployment, poverty, corruption, and lawlessness could trigger the anger of South Africans. Mbeki was speaking at the memorial service for ANC Deputy Secretary-General, Jessie Duarte. According To Mbeki "One of my fears comrades is that one of these days..... we're going to have our own version of the 2010 Arab Springs. "You remember what happened in Tunisia, in Tunis when that Arab Spring started? A street vendor was abused and beaten up by the police and destroyed whatever he was selling and that made the country angry.
"That is how that uprising started in Tunisia. It's because the problem was brewing under the surface."They triggered just a little spark. I'm saying one of my fears is that one of these days is
going to happen was: you can't have so many people unemployed, so many people poor, people facing lawlessness, faced with the leadership in which ANC people are called corrupt. One day, it's going to explode.
Mbeki has also criticized Cyril Ramaphosa's administration, stating that it had failed to implement key structural reforms since making several commitments at this year's State on the Nation Address.
"Comrade President Cyril Ramaphosa, when he delivered the State of the Nation Address in February said in 100 days there must be an agreed comprehensive social compact to address these matters. Nothing has happened, nothing," Mbeki said.
Mbeki further said there is no plan to address poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
