Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe has called on communities to stop destroying property of individuals and that belonging to the state when they are engaged in protests. Shongwe was speaking during a Prayer Day organised by Calcutta Police precinct that was held at Marite in Bushbuckridge on Saturday, 18 May 2013.
The Prayer Day was aimed at mobilising communities in the fight against crime in Calcutta police precinct and it was held in conjunction with stakeholders such as the Bushbuckridge Municipality, local CPF, Department of Social Development and religious fraternity in the area.
Shongwe says it is pointless for communities to complain about service delivery issues such as roads and at the same time burn tyres destroying the very same roads and government buildings.
He has also urged the police swiftly investigate all cases linked to violence in recent protests at Thandukukhanya and KwaThandeka.
“We would leave no stone unturned in dealing with anarchic elements who want to make a mockery of our hard earned democracy,” said Shongwe.
He has also called on communities to be wary of some individuals who use service delivery concerns to settle political scores by inciting communities into unwarranted violence. He said all citizens have a right to protest when services are not being delivered to them however, they do not have a right to destroy properties belonging to the state or private individuals when protesting.
Shongwe was responding to service protests that took place at eThandukukhanya (Piet Retief) and Kwathandeka (Amsterdam) in Mkhondo Municipality last week. The MEC has meanwhile welcomed the arrest of 86 suspects whose charges ranges from public violence to incitement. Some of them have already appeared in court.
He has therefore called for the speedy prosecution of all offenders in order to deter criminals from taking advantage of service delivery protests in future.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Cell: 082 678 1450
Tel: 013 766 4055
