MEC Manana concerned about criminality during protests
27 May 2009
Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Sibongile Manana has called on police to ensure that there is law and order during the service delivery protests taking place in three different areas around the province.
The MEC has established that Mashishing residents at Lydenburg have threatened to disrupt the proceedings of tabling a municipal budget. Although they did not get permission from authorities, they have threatened to go ahead with an unauthorised march with an effort to disrupt the proceedings.
At Volkrust, residents have also planned a legalised march to the magistrate court to demand a release of four juveniles who had been arrested for public violence sometime ago.
Two of them had already been given bail. The other two were not released since they had other pending cases. The residents have issued letters to the school principals threatening them that learners would not come for classes but will be joining the planned march.
Although the situation was calm at Ogies following the arrest of five people for public violence who were also in possession of heroine, the residents have also planned another march scheduled for Friday in protest for service delivery.
MEC Manana called on the police to be in full force in all these areas adding that they should deal with everybody who commit crime. She said they should "do everything" in their power to ensure law and order.
"There is nothing wrong with authorised protests, the police should deal with those who think they have an opportunity to commit crime during these protests,” said MEC Manana. She said it was unfortunate that children were the ones who got arrested during public violence.
"We are calling on community to report those people who will be vandalising their properties so that the police could be able to lawfully arrest them," said MEC Manana. She explained that people usually destroyed other people's properties by throwing stones and burning houses.
She said it was unlawful to barricade roads, burn tyres on the streets and prevents others from going to work during the protests.
For more information, contact:
Zibonele Mncwango
Tel: 013 766 4018
Cell: 072 159 1865
Issued by: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison
