It’s a big no to violent protest

Yesterday two so-called “community protests” took place in different parts of the province. The incidents are referred to as “socalled” as they were not clear-cut community protests against poor services.

At Komga, the Great Kei Municipality building was torched in the early hours of yesterday morning. The arsonists targeted the offices of the mayor Loyiso Tshetsha and also burned two municipal refuse-removal trucks.

Before their dastardly and criminal act, they tied up a security guard and left him in the burning building. Fortunately the guard was discovered by firefighters who responded to the call. Had they not responded in time, anything could have happened to the poor guard.

Frankly this was no community protest but a clear case of arson and attempted murder and it should be treated as such. Besides, what protest takes place while the rest of the community is sleeping? One would assume that the whole point of a protest is to be seen or to be heard. If that is the case then why would those behind the Komga incident need to hide under the cover of darkness to put their point across? Clearly those involved had intended to commit criminal acts for which they were not willing to be identified. Law-enforcement agencies should deal with them harshly.

Also if the complaints were legitimate then it makes no sense to destroy two specialised trucks that are so crucial to service delivery – refuse collection. The question to be asked is who benefits from such mayhem and wanton destruction of public property? It cannot be the community of Komga as they will be adversely affected by such a setback. In Ginsberg near King William’s Town, there was another protest where those involved hurled petrol bombs at the police and also destroyed public property. This was another case of planned mayhem. It takes an effort, however little, to produce a petrol bomb. It is plain to see that this was not a spontaneous public unrest. Someone took the effort to buy fuel and prepare the explosives. Police vans were damaged during the turmoil. As a poor community, the people of Ginsberg are those mostly affected by crime and poor policing. Often the excuse given for the lack of police visibility is the shortage of police vehicles. Again the biggest loser in the torching of the police vans will be the community of Ginsberg.

We can no longer blame the government for these destructive acts. Yes the government and the governing party have to shoulder some of the blame for their slowness to deliver services. But the community is responsible for the criminal behaviour. And those criminals reside in our homes and for as long as they are shielded by the community, then there are very little prospects of progress. It has been said before, and it is worth restating, that destroying public property undermines the legitimate concerns of communities.

Everyone has a right to protest but that right is limited and comes with responsibility. Once criminality creeps in, then it ceases to be a service delivery protest. The criminals must be exposed and must be brought to book.