Premier lashes out at protesters

Kiviet says people loot and abuse other’s rights

EASTERN Cape premier Noxolo Kiviet has lashed out at service delivery protesters who vandalised property when showing their dissatisfaction with government.

Kiviet was addressing nearly 500 people during the provincial Human Rights Day celebrations in Ngcobo yesterday. She said it was wrong for protesters to abuse the rights of others to show their unhappiness.

“These days people say they want water but the same people decide to break into pubs and steal alcohol. I do not understand the link between service delivery and alcohol. People use protests as a means of looting and abuse other people’s rights.

“It is our right as government to protect those who fall victim to the rowdy behaviour of the protesters. Law enforcement agencies must be firm because you have to protect the innocent citizens.”

She said unlike the protesters in the past who held peaceful marches these days protests are unruly and rowdy. She urged religious leaders to put emphasis on parenthood during Easter.

“We must emulate the value of parenthood. Human rights is about the value of human beings – we should emulate that as we go towards Easter.”

The event was not just about celebrations but the departments of home affairs, social development and Sassa were also in attendance offering their services to those who wanted to register for social grants and ID books.

Social development MEC Pemmy Majodina called for the denial of bail for gender-based violence perpetrators.

“We’re saying no bail to all gender-based perpetrators, no parole or state legal aid for them. They must feel the pain.”

She said the Ngcobo area was chosen for the celebration as many liberation leaders from the ANC and the PAC hailed from the area. She said part of the reason was: “Poverty, genderbased violence and the disrespect of basic human rights is rife in this area. We want to send a clear message that we will not tolerate this, which is why we are going to introduce mobile courts in [the Transkei].”

She said her department wanted to bring back the dignity of parenthood to the children of the poor by giving them school uniforms. The department handed out uniforms and toiletries to more than 100 pupils.

“You could see the kids come from impoverished homes. Being an orphan myself I know how it is to be in that situation.”