The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo urges the South African Police Service (SAPS) to use the full might of the law to restore law and order in Phalaborwa, Namakgale and Lulekani, which have been ravaged by protests for more than a week.
While the DA respects the right of communities to protest, the thuggish behaviour of the protestors, the destruction of public properties and the disruption of economic activities in the areas over the last few days due to the ongoing protest must be dealt with by law enforcement to end the ongoing criminal elements.
It is very clear, given the public statements of some of the protesters, that they are hellbent on making the surrounding areas “ungovernable.”
It is now up to SAPS to act legally to ensure that a minority of individuals with no regard for law and order do not jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of the majority of law-abiding residents in the areas by enforcing the law without fear and favour.
The DA will continue to monitor the protests and SAPS’s response to ensure that normality is restored in those areas.