The SACP Gauteng calls on Local and Provincial authorities to intervene and give the people of Zithobeni and other protesting communities an urgent hearing
5 February 2014
The South African Communist Party (SACP) notes the prolonged service delivery protests in Zithobeni and another breakout in Sebokeng. The protests in Zithobeni continued for the past two weeks without evident intervention on the part of local authorities.
The SACP calls upon the City of Tshwane and the provincial government to give the community an urgent hearing.
There is a deeply disturbing trend of bureaucratic handling of these protests, including the pathologically long time it takes for authorities to respond to these protests and to listen to communities.
Such delays on the part of local and other relevant authorities in responding to community concerns are disconcerting. They lead to a precipitous erosion of confidence of our people on the authorities and impede their ability to restore normal service delivery.
The SACP strongly condemns the violence and destruction of public property accompanying these protests. Whilst the issues being highlighted by these protests are legitimate, the burning of a library, community hall, municipal office and a section of the police station in Zithobeni is abominable.
Failure by authorities to intervene decisively and timeously perpetuates these acts of hooliganism and barbarism such as the burning and destruction of clinics, police stations and community property.
What is concerning us as the SACP is that in many instances these community protests follows a series of requests for an opportunity to be heard which takes far too long for that hearing to take place.
We call for swift intervention by the local, provincial and national authorities whenever protests erupt and to unlock any blockages and to restore normal and effective service delivery.
All of the roleplayers, our communities, the police and authorities must draw enduring lessons from the past few weeks, by ending the destruction of state property, avoiding casualties and instituting prompt resolution of community and service delivery related grievances. This is the path we hope the protesting community in Sebokeng shall follow. It must be met with a swift response, listening and rapid solutions by government in both the provincial and local spheres.
The SACP will certainly join the efforts on both fronts. Our party will also continue to work with its alliance partners to ensure that these issues are resolved.
Issued on behalf of the SACP Gauteng Province
Contact: Mamabolo Jacob, Provincial Secretary, 082 884 1868,
SACP Spokesperson: Lucian Segami: 079 522 0098
