SAHRC hears 'mob psychology' kicked in during July riots
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has heard the July unrest was unlike any other protest in South Africa.
Sociology professor Paulus Zulu testified at the hearings on Monday.
He told the panel the rioting was strategic.
"The organisers of the event utilised to a certain extent well-known strategies or anticipated certain things to happen.
"And I think to a great extent, mob psychology also kicked in, but that could have been predictable.
"Having known that most of the unrest in South Africa entails mob psychology that functions in a particular direction."
S'bu Zikode of shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo also gave evidence.
He told the commission the unrest was clearly organised and believed it was coordinated by some politicians.
He says the target was the economy.
"People are not stupid. How do you destroy the very same structure you need. A reasonable mind wouldn't do that.
"So masses of people who actually took food because it was allowed - the police allowed, the state allowed. So people are taking, who cares? Because they were hungry for too long.
"Why would you burn the trucks that are transporting the very same food on the freeway? Surely there were smart people behind [this]."
