SACP Gauteng PEC calls for urgent Provincial and Local Government intervention to engage communities affected by service delivery protests

24 January 2014

SACP Gauteng has noted some pockets of intense community protests relating to service delivery in working class areas in the province of Gauteng.

Almost in all these communities, the principal demands relates to housing, land and basic services. The SACP believes these are just and legitimate demands which should be given urgent attention by government.

The need for urgent government-led intervention is compatible with the commitments of the ANC elections manifesto which calls for a united action by government, together with our people, to move South Africa forward by addressing the challenges facing our communities and satisfying their ever rising material aspirations and needs.

It is in this context that the SACP believes that the democratic government must not abandon the people to the mercy of counter-revolutionaries and the shameful electoral populists who are after political capital, but who have nothing to offer our people.

The truth is, for many of our communities, there is no respite outside of the framework of the radical socio-economic agenda of the ANC, which is opposed by the DA and others, to fundamentally address lack of land ownership, housing, poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The SACP is also deeply worried by the rising number of casualties during service delivery related protests, often due to feeble policing methods and actions.

The demise of human lives during community protests must be condemned and radical steps must be taken to eliminate police brutality.

In the Durban Deep area, Police authorities must also be congratulated for their prompt arrest and charging of four officers, with one allegedly involved in the fatal shooting.

We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during service delivery protests.

The local structures of the SACP will continue to work with and lead community struggles and will urgently engage these communities, working with our alliance partners the ANC and Cosatu as part of the ANC election manifesto commitment to address these challenges and to take South Africa forward.

Issued on behalf of the SACP Gauteng Province

Contact: Mamabolo Jacob, Provincial Secretary, 082 884 1868

SACP Spokesperson: Lucian Segami: 079 522 0098