About 350 people were killed in the unrest that erupted after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court.

Special co-ordinated police raids took place in six provinces, in an operation which relied on extensive trawls through social media posts to pinpoint suspected agitators.

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Those arrested are due to appear in a court in Durban on Friday.

An inquiry earlier this year blamed the violence on faceless masterminds, but also heavily criticised the police response.