Anarchy not an answer
ROUGHLY R2 million in public money may have to be spent fixing the damage caused by people who set alight two halls and a MyCiti bus in Joe Slovo in Milnerton.
We condemn these acts of violence and urge authorities to take whatever legal steps are needed to ensure those responsible for the damage are brought to book.
Their actions were reportedly in response to the eviction of people who illegally occupied a piece of vacant land in the area.
While there aught to a degree of sympathy for people who are homeless or destitute, resorting to anarchy is not the answer.
Under apartheid the burning of state property was an expression of anger at being oppressed. South Africa is a constitutional democracy where we all have freedom of expression and the right to protest. Those rights are accompanied by responsibility – which includes appreciating public amenities like clinics and community halls.
What happened in Joe Slovo is not the work of people who appreciate democracy and order. It is the work of those who have no respect for others.
They have the stupid idea that violence is the answer to their problem. How on earth does burning a community hall help your cause?
Equally stupid are those who aid and abet this anarchy by turning a blind eye. We urge law-abiding residents of Joe Slovo to report the culprits. Their behaviour is akin to that of hooligans and they must not be allowed to destroy amenities meant to serve the community.
While we also appeal to community leaders to intervene and do what they can to help prevent the illegal occupation of land, we believe the authorities should act decisively against anyone who thinks it is in order to invade land. Yes, the country has a massive housing problem the government treats in a lacklustre manner, and yes, some people are desperate, but anarchy and destruction should not be tolerated. This said, it is common knowledge that there are elements who exploit the housing crisis.
While law-abiding citizens on the waiting list wait their turn, these elements use land invasions as a short cut to jump the queue. Everyone must work together to put an end to this type of lawlessness.