Protests are not
about service delivery but about citizen
involvement – Friedman
Media Statement
18 March 2010
Professor Steven Friedman of the
University of Johannesburg says service
delivery protests within municipalities
are not literally about service delivery
but are about citizens demanding to be
involved in government.
Friedman was addressing delegates
attending the Safety and Security Summit
on Service Delivery Unrest at Badplaas
today [Thursday, 18 March 2010]
organized by the Mpumalanga Department
of Safety, Security and Liaison.
He said that although the protests were
known as demanding services, in actual
fact citizens wanted involvement in the
government they democratically elected.
Friedman said, since 1994 there has been
no feedback from those in government
about decisions they made.
He said such incidences led to
frustrations and people resorted to
protests in the name of wanting basic
services such as water, electricity,
roads and houses.
Friedman said that it was high time that
those in decision making positions
change their attitude and listen to the
people who voted for them.
He explained that government needed to
understand that people voted for them
into power so that they could “bring the
goodies” on their behalf, and they
subsequently needed to deliver as
expected.
“In the process of rendering the
services, citizens want to be involved
in determining what services are
delivered in their localities.
“Citizens become angry when they feel
their lives are being interfered with
without having been consulted; there is
a need for good communication between
those in government and the people who
elected them,” he said.
He added that, in general, an average
citizen understands that there are
sometimes constrains in delivering
services, but authorities need to
explain to the people.
He said the protests had been going on
for the past five years and people were
utilizing their right to view their
opinion through the demonstrations. He
warned that with local government
elections around the corner, government
should be aware that some people would
be influencing others not to vote
because of dissatisfaction about service
delivery processes.
“Since we are now a democratic society,
we will have to allow them to do that,”
said the Professor.
He said sometimes protests were promoted
by political actors who had certain
interests and at times the protests were
genuine because people had information.
“People are not asking government to go
back to their desks and come out with
sophisticated systems and resources,
these protests will never end unless
decision makers listen to the views of
the people who put them into government.
“They want to be listened to because
they are important, they voted and since
we are in a democratic state, they want
a voice in the decision making
processes,” he said.
He confirmed that protests did not
happen spontaneously but were organized
by people either in government or
leaders of concerned groups.
The summit which coordinated under the
theme “Together enhancing lawful and
peaceful protests” was attended by among
others, the South African Police
Services, Justice Department,
Correctional Services department, SALGA
and councilors.
The main aim was to deliberate on issues
that are affecting the province relating
to service delivery protests and their
consequences.
Issued by Mpumalanga Department for
Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Contacts: (013) 766-4055
082 678 1450
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