Gauteng MEC condemns violent protests

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Pretoria - Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and Human Settlements, Jacob Mamabolo, has condemned the barricading of the Golden Highway road, burning of tyres and stoning of cars in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

The provincial department on Wednesday said residents embarked in a protest after some of them were not hired to work on the upgrade of the waste water treatment works in Sebokeng.

MEC Mamabolo said the acts were not a way to address matters of concern, as this inconveniences other road users and puts their lives in danger.

“Inconveniencing other road users will not solve the problems at hand,” the MEC said.

He said government extends an invitation to residents for public engagement.

“… I urge them to refrain from using violence to raise their grievances. We are committed with the municipality to resolve the issues raised by residents,” said MEC Mamabolo.

He called for calm and pleaded with protest organizers to engage with the local and district municipalities and the Cogta and Human Settlements Department to resolve the matter.

He said acts of violence will not be tolerated when people are given various platforms to raise their issues, and appealed to Gauteng residents to use the appropriate channels  to raise their concerns with government.

“Protestors cannot continue to act irresponsibly when the doors of engagement with government are always open. Last year, we worked together with people of Gauteng and managed to bring down the number of service delivery protests and we are still committed to using the same approach,” said MEC Mamabolo.

“Last year in January, protestors viciously attacked the local councillor when they were not appointed to work in the waste water treatment works in area. The councillor was attacked at home and sustained serious head injuries during the attack,” the department said. - SAnews.gov.za