KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni has tasked law enforcement agencies to step-up their enforcement operations and ensure that law and order prevails in Ezingolweni, South Coast, following anarchy as a result of service delivery protests in the area.
MEC Nkonyeni condemned the destruction of infrastructure and malicious damage to property after protesters blockaded roads with burning tyres and rubble since the early hours of the morning.
According to reports, a Municipal building and state vehicle was also set alight by the protesters.
MEC Nkonyeni called on police to act swiftly and arrest suspects behind these acts of criminality. She commended police who by midday had arrested two suspects for public violence and one suspect for arson in connection to the burning of a Municipal building and state vehicle.
“Public Order Police together with the South African Police Service’s Tactical Response Team have been deployed to the area and the situation is receiving urgent attention. We have directed police to act swiftly and so far, three people have been arrested for public violence and arson. The arrested suspects must face the full might of the law because we want to ensure that protesters who cause anarchy and vandalise state property deal with the consequences of their criminal actions.
While community members have the freedom to exercise their constitutional rights to protest and display their dissatisfaction with lack of service delivery, they should do so within the confines of the law without resorting to criminality or endangering the lives of law-abiding citizens. The destruction of property will never be tolerated by the KwaZulu-Natal Government therefore, the law must take its course in dealing with the culprits,” said MEC Nkonyeni.
MEC Nkonyeni said heavy police presence including Public Order Police, the Tactical Response Team and local police have been deployed to monitor the situation in the affected areas.