Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Sibongile Manana have called for calm from the people of Leandra who are in confrontation with the police for the past five weeks.
At least three people have been shot and killed since 19 April this year by the riot police after the local people staged illegal marches, vandalised properties of the local councillors, preventing people from going to work and barricading roads.
The angry people are also reportedly preventing busses and taxis to operate in the area. MEC Manana rushed to Leandra on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 following complaints from Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza that the township was in flames and that there were no police officers to stabilise the situation.
At a meeting with a local Peace Committee, MEC Manana was told that the people demand that all councillors resign and that Leandra be demarcated to Gauteng province.
They are also demanding that service delivery be speed up as they complain that the township has no schools, clinics, creation facilities and halls.
At a tense meeting last night, Friday, 30 April 2010 the Leandra Youth Concerned Committee undertook to inform the people to calm down until MEC Manana briefed Premier Mabuza about their demands.
The MEC told them that they needed to be responsible leaders by considering the impact of their decisions as many people are reportedly having lost their jobs since they are prevented from going to work. “There is no one who is allowed to make disorder in the community. The law allows people to view their opinion by marching or picketing, however when people start to throw stones on passing vehicles, barricading roads and preventing other to live their lives the way they like, the police will retaliate.
“Do not be emotional when you negotiate with government, do not be over-angry and you should always talk while you are sober. When people lose their jobs because of your bad decisions, their children will always hate you.
“Do not fight the police officers, when you do that you are actually fighting the government which South African elected into power. We liberated this country; we know all the tactics and strategies that you use in making your voices hear. I am appealing to you to be responsible leaders,” said MEC Manana.
She added that government officials should give back feedback on whatever promises they make as lack of information created frustration and made people to resolve to violent.
“Whether we have answers or not, we must give back feedback as we cannot fool people for a long time. The people should not cause havoc as people will be forced to do their job,” said Ms Manana. The MEC promised to meet them in two weeks time.
Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Cell: 072 159 1865
Issued by: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
1 May 2010
Source: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/safety_and_security/home.asp)
