Weekend Argus: Call for discipline as criminals blamed for protest violence

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Call for discipline as criminals blamed for protest violence

October 21, 2010 Edition 2

FOUZIA VAN DER FORT Staff Reporter

CRIMINAL elements were re responsible for the violence during service delivery protests in Khayelitsha, says the provincial leader of the shack dwellers’ movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut confirmed yesterday that two trucks and a private vehicle had been set alight in Khayelitsha and that seven vehicles including a police car had been damaged in Lingelethu West on Tuesday.

Traut said public violence cases were being investigated and police were patrolling.

Abahlali baseMjondolo’s leader, Mzonke Poni, claims that criminals were behind the acts of violence.

However, he called on residents to “barricade roads, burn tyres and sing Struggle songs” in a “disciplined and peaceful way”.

Over the past few weeks protesters have thrown stones, burned rubbish and moved shipping containers into the middle of the road on Mew Way and Lansdowne roads.

Also, in Khayelitsha two Golden Arrow buses were torched, at least 10 other buses were stoned and R15 000 damage was done to the Lansdowne Fire Station during service delivery protests.

City spokeswoman Kylie Hatton said the damage to municipal infrastructure was counter-productive to a service delivery protest.