MEC Shongwe calls for community leaders to assist prevent violent protests

09 May 2012

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe has called on community leaders to play a role in preventing their communities from destroying public and private property during service delivery protests.

was speaking in Lillydale near Bushbuckridge yesterday [08 May 2012] were the community burnt municipal property including a satellite police station when there was a protest to complain about the shortage of water supply in the area.

Shongwe believes that community leaders are better positioned to negotiate for peaceful protests as they are known and respected in their communities.

He urged the community leaders that they should on a regular basis inform residents about developments and service delivery plans in their area to avoid unnecessary protests which sometimes turn violent.

“Councilors should also constantly communicate with their communities about plans and developments and if there are no developments, they must sit together with the community to find solutions of those problems before people take to the streets,” he said.

 “It is unfortunate that during these protests, other community members get opportunities to commit crime,” complained Shongwe.

During the protests, nine people were arrested and detained at the Hazyview Police Hazyview. Community members demanded that MEC Shongwe order the release of the suspects and an agreement was reached that the MEC would not interfere with the processes of the justice department.

MEC Shongwe explained that communities have the right to protests if there is no service delivery, however; police will act if people become violent and destroy people’s houses or government property.

Meanwhile, the MEC earlier yesterday handed over school uniform to five great grand children of Gogo Alumina Phiri of Mattafin who was adopted by the department.

The 95-year old who lives with the orphaned children thanked the MEC saying she would not have been able to buy uniform with the little pension she gets that feeds the whole family.

The department has found sponsors that will assist in providing for other gogo’s needs such as a house. 

Enquiries:

Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450

Issued by Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison

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