GEORGE NEWS - The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape notes with serious concern the public disorder and protest actions emanating from Thembalethu, George throughout the course of yesterday. We condemn in the strongest terms any form of violence and public intimidation and call for calm. While we know that there are people with genuine concerns, we do not condone the kind of violence we’ve been seeing.
The scenes coming from the area show groups of protesters intimidating fellow community members and preventing them from going to work. Other reports show protesters burning and looting a truck.
We’ve seen protests of a similar nature across the province this year and many of them target the province’s main transport routes in an attempt to destabilise the province and hurt our economy. This is extremely dangerous as it directly threatens people’s jobs and livelihood.
Damage to public and private property only reverses progress, which has been and limits the province’s ability to continue making progress for the people.
We urge the community of Thembalethu to report any incidents of violence, vandalism and intimidation to the local police.
Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela together with Minister for Transport Donald Grant will today, 21 June, conduct an oversight inspection of the area and meet with the community members to hear their concerns.
We will work to engage with all stakeholders in order to find a lasting solution for the people of Thembalethu. Our work is to always put the people and their communities first.
Click here for previous articles:
- Gutted in protests
- Thembalethu: Situation remains tense
- Latest: Riots in Thembalethu
- 8 Arrested for public violence
- Riots: N2 remains closed
- Update: Thembalethu riots
- Riots: 2 Trucks petrol bombed
- Rioting in Thembalethu
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