adminJOHANNESBURG — Local government in Mohlakeng near Randfontein, say this afternoon’s violent protest is politically motivated and is blaming Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members for instigating the torching of buildings. Residents have spent the day looting foreign owned shops and setting state property alight, including Mayor Sylvia Thebenare house.
They also looted foreign owned shops and police have been moving business owners out of the area.
The community is demanding housing, electricity and water. As the 2016 local government elections approach, leaders are adamant the EFF is behind today’s violence and destruction.
West Rand District mayor Mpho Nawa said, “The people who burned the mayor’s house are largely from the EFF.”
Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane has condemned the EFF for the violence in Mohlakeng.
“We are fortunate that no was hurt but it’s important to condemn the actions of the party.”
The MEC says local leaders have documents and police have video footage of who is responsible.
She has shown the media a memorandum of grievances with the EFF’s logo on it.
The party is yet to respond.
Calm has been restored but Randfontein residents say they’ll resume their protest tomorrow, vowing they’ll be blocking every street corner to stop people from going to work and children from going to school.
Police have confirmed that no one has been arrested following today’s unrest, but say officers will be deployed throughout the week to monitor the situation
Meanwhile, no extraordinary security measures are being put in place for next week’s opening of Parliament, its secretary Gengezi Mgidlana said yesterday.
Briefing the media on preparations for the February 12 opening, which includes President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address, he said security would be consistent with such a high-level event.
“In terms of safety and security, this is a high-level event. All three arms of the state are present . . . as well as various dignitaries. So security measures consistent with (this) . . . have been put in place by the security services.”
Parliament’s security staff were working with their security service counterparts to make sure the event went smoothly.
Responding to a question on whether reports of increased security for the event were correct, he responded: “If the question is are there extraordinary security measures, the answer is no.” Mgidlana said “appropriate security measures” were being provided.
Asked if there were special plans to deal with disruptions by MPs, Mgidlana declined to be drawn on what he described as possibilities.
“We have planned for a successful event . . You are talking about possibilities… we can’t be planning for possibilities that may or may not happen.”
The opening was a state event involving pomp and ceremony.
“You have all role-players playing their specific roles… as far as I know, you do not have a situation where any of the role-players are looking at usurping the roles of others.”
The EFF, who have 25 MPs in the National Assembly, have threatened to disrupt Zuma’s State of the Nation address, which he is set to deliver from 19:00 on the Thursday.
Mgidlana told reporters on yesterday that the budget ceiling for the opening was R4m, in line with government’s austerity measures.
“We have cut our budget by well over half.”
Last year’s openings — there were two — cost R9 million and R4.6 million, he said. — Eyewitness News/Sapa.
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