Violent protests have erupted in South Africa's townships and shantytowns, the worst riots since Jacob Zuma became president in May. Below are answers to some questions on what caused the protests and where they are likely to lead: Poverty Millions of black South Africans still live in impoverished, squalid shack settlements sprawled around the country's main cities 15 years after apartheid came to an end. They have been demanding improved services such as water, electricity and sanitation. Although the government has made some basic services available in shantytowns, residents say Zuma's administration should move faster to meet promises made during elections three months ago. Official figures show over two million households, or around 8 million people out of the country's 49 million estimated population, live in informal settlements. Life expectancy at birth is less than 51 years and the South African Institute for Race Relations (SAIRR) said earlier this month that 75 percent of black children lived in poverty – compared to five percent of white children. The latest UN Human Development Report ranks South Africa at 121 of 177 countries. Recession South Africa, hard hit by the global economic crisis, is in its first recession in 17 years after the longest spurt of growth in its history. Tens of thousands have lost their jobs. Trade unions, which helped bring Zuma to power, have been flexing their muscles with strike threats and work stoppages over pay. The official unemployment rate stood at 23.5 percent in the first quarter of the year with more than four million South Africans unemployed.In the townships and shacks the picture is even bleaker. Many residents eke out a living by selling sweets and fruit from small stands or travel to white areas to seek menial labour. A wave of xenophobic attacks which led to the deaths of at least 62 people last year was sparked partly by fear that foreigners were taking jobs away from poor South Africans. The biggest group of immigrants, an estimated three million, is from Zimbabwe. Income inequality A large black middle-class has emerged, partly because of the government's black economic empowerment policy aimed at redressing economic disparities stemming from the apartheid era. But this wealth has not filtered through to the poor. The government said in a review of its first 15 years in power released last year that income inequality increased in the period from 1995-2005.UN housing agency UN-Habitat has described income inequalities as “most pronounced and extraordinarily high”. HIV/AIDS South Africa, with some 5.7 million people infected with HIV, has the world's largest AIDS epidemic. An estimated 500,000 people are infected each year and around 1,000 die every day from AIDS-related illnesses. The pandemic has led to an increase in instances where children head households. In 2007, about 148,000 South African households were headed by children whose parents had both died, according to the SAIRR. Will the protests continue? The protests are likely to continue and spread further unless the government takes concrete steps to address the grievances or deploys extra police to stop the disturbances. Last year's xenophobic violence came to an end when hundreds of police were sent into trouble spots and government ministers and officials stepped in to appeal for calm. Zuma's government will be hard pressed to meet the demands and improve services in the current recession and without being seen by investors as moving away from economic policies seen by markets as sound.
