Violent protests defeat purpose

As South Africans, we need to be responsible citizens, we all have rights but our rights must not be used to trample on other people’s rights or property.

We all have a right to protest, but must do so in a peaceful manner. Recent protests around the country have shown a level of irresponsibility by citizens.

Our rights must go with accountability and being realistic. Whenever people are asked why they act in such a barbaric manner, they blame the government for not listening to them.

However, the problem with that kind of reaction is that we target the wrong places or wrong people.

When we have problems with Eskom, for example, we must go to the nearest Eskom offices. Whenever we have problems about the lack of service delivery we need to go to our local municipal offices to vent our problems.

How can it be correct that when we have problem with power failure we run to block roads with burning tyres, creating potholes? What is the use of blocking roads and stoning cars or burning buildings when the problem is simply about water?

So many innocent lives have been lost and a lot of money wasted to replace vandalised public property, schools among others. We clearly need civic education on our responsibilities as South Africans.

Boy Titosse wa Moyana Winterveldt Unemployed Youth Forum