Publications
Partners
The violence associated with protests is a cause for concern for all in the country.
Not only does it send a bad image of the country globally, it affects the very people protesting for services dearly.
In the last few weeks, residents of Mahikeng in North West went on the rampage, burning and destroying buildings and vehicles because they want Premier Supra Mahumapelo removed from office.
In Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, 32 trucks were set alight and looted, leading to the closure of the N3 – a busy route which links the port city of Durban with Gauteng, the country’s economic hub.
In Cape Town, residents of Siqalo informal settlement burnt tyres and blocked roads in their protests for housing and services.
Similar protests took place in southern Johannesburg when residents demanded better housing.
These are the most recent examples of violent service-delivery protests.
Citizens resorted to these tactics to get municipalities and government to hear their pleas for help.
The cries of the people have, unfortunately, received little attention from those who are expected to serve them.
People see that they are only good to vote at every election, and are forgotten when those they elected assume power.
These unfortunate acts require those in office to look at how, after 24 years of democracy, the state can improve the way it serves its citizens.
The governance of the country has clearly shown the disjuncture between government and its citizens. We need to find a system that allows citizens to voice their concerns and demands for better services without having to resort to criminal acts.
