SACP Gauteng strongly condemns the deployment of the notorious Red Ants to the volatile area of Bekkersdal

8 February 2014

The SACP Gauteng strongly condemns the insensitive and highly provocative decision to deploy the notorious Red Ants to "clean" the volatile area of Bekkersdal during the most crucial period, the last opportunity given to our people to register for the 2014 elections.

We are deeply shocked by the deliberate deployment of the Red Ants given their inhuman track record and profile of treating working class and poor people with disdain and contempt. We believe that the presence of the Red Ants in Bekkersdal is regrettable and unfortunate.

We call for the immediate withdrawal of the Red Ants from Bekkersdal. We also call on community leaders and people of Bekkersdal not to be deliberately provoked by the insensitive conduct by those responsible for the deployment of the Red Ants at this important period in the history of our country. We furthermore call on the people and leaders of Bekkersdal to allow voter registration to proceed smoothly.

The SACP demands an urgent investigation of those that authorised the deployment of the Red Ants and for such people to be held responsible for this deliberate provocative act and for the violence that broke out in Bekkersdal. Our party believe that the consequences and negative implications of this decision were reasonably foreseeable and should have been consciously avoided.

Issued on behalf of the SACP Gauteng Province

Contact:

Mamabolo Jacob: Provincial Secretary: 082 884 1868
Lucian Segami: Provincial Spokesperson: 079 522 0098