File
President Cyril Ramaphosa says those behind the week-long spree of violence and looting that has shocked South Africa sought a "popular insurrection".
In his address to the nation on Friday evening, he also acknowledged that they were poorly prepared for the disorder, but vowed that they would find those who had instigated the violence.
Ramaphosa said the chaos was used as a smokescreen to carry out economic sabotage through targeted attacks on trucks, factories, warehouses, and other infrastructure necessary for the functioning of the country's economy and the provision of services to its people.
He said since the outbreak of the violence, at least 212 people had lost their lives.
Of these, 180 have been in KwaZulu-Natal, and 32 in Gauteng.
The president said the attempted insurrection had failed, because of the efforts of the security forces, and because South Africans had rejected it.
