MEC Kaunda declares war on illegal protests
‘Any person who blocks roads or conducts any criminal act will be charged and prosecuted,' he said.
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, has warned that individuals implicated in illegal protests will face the full might of the law.
‘Any person who blocks roads or conducts any criminal act will be charged and prosecuted,’ he said.
Addressing a media briefing in Durban on Tuesday, Kaunda said illegal protests have resulted in unnecessary confrontations between the police and communities.
‘Police have a duty to protect everybody’s rights according to the Constitution, including the rights of those who are not part of protests,’ said Kaunda.
He said in KZN where there are still pockets of killings, police are forced to divert their focus to deal with protests, leaving criminals roaming the streets.
‘We call upon protest organisers to ensure that they use established government platforms of engagement provided by our Constitution to raise their concerns on issues relating to service delivery.
‘We have been engulfed by public protests which have not only been illegal, but also violent. These protests placed the lives of people and property in danger,’ he said.
He said the province recorded 530 public protests in the previous financial year and over the past four months, 270 protests were recorded.
‘We have established a sub-committee on public protests tasked with devising a strategy to deal with public protests.
The sub-committee is led by Kaunda as a Chairperson, the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay, MEC for Cogta, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and the MEC for Education, Mthandeni Dlungwane.
‘This sub-committee, which has been given three months to eradicate illegal protests, has already identified flash points of public protests in the province.
‘This is where law enforcement will be increased as part of our plans. These flash points include the uMkhanyakude District where there is a huge challenge of cross-border crime.
‘In King Cetshwayo, especially in uMfolozi and uMhlathuze, we have seen a resurgence of disruptions at major companies such as RBM.’
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