ANC CONDEMNS VIOLENT PROTESTS IN DURBAN

26 June 2013

The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal strongly condemns the incidents of violence and destruction of property which have accompanied protests in the eThekwini Municipality in the past few days.

The violent protests at Durban's Ward 30 and the Glebe Hostel have seen two offices of municipal councillors, people's cars, homes and community halls vandalized. These incidents are very unfortunate, as the communities are going to be badly affected because it will take time to replace the damaged properties.

It is disappointing that these incidents took place at the time when the leadership of the ANC in the eThekwini Region is busy engaging with residents of these two areas with the aim of addressing their concerns.

On Tuesday night, a municipal office at Ward 30 was torched, homes and cars of innocent people badly damaged. Earlier on Tuesday, the protestors had blockaded roads and intimidated motorists and last week the protestors at Glebe Hostel destroyed a municipal office and a community hall.

While the ANC acknowledges the constitutional right for every citizen to express their concerns freely and lawlessness will not be condoned under any circumstances. We call on our people to exercise their rights to protest in a peaceful and orderly manner.

If people in the community have complaints, they should engage with the ANC or the municipality directly. It concerns us that during these protests, service delivery is affected.

The ANC led eThekwini Municipality has done well in changing the lives of people of Ward 30 by building decent homes, schools, roads and community halls. The eThekwini Municipality is currently building homes at Ward 30 and unfortunately the contractors are being blocked by the protestors.

Statement issued by Cde Senzo Mkhize, ANC KZN spokesperson, June 26 2013

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