Violent protests mar sympathy for cause

YOUR article “Phoenix residents applaud voting station victory” ( the Daily News, October 8) refers.

It is worthy of praise that Mosa ( Minorities of SA), a political party, could join forces with the local Stonebridge Civic Association and residents to display their displeasure and object to their voting station being included in an area out of Phoenix.

The article said they appear to have followed due process by formally handing over a memorandum to the Municipal Demarcation Board ( MDB), staging a peaceful protest outside the Durban City Hall and obtaining the signatures of thousands of residents opposed to the move. In the end, they were victorious in having the status quo maintained. What a happy ending to a peaceful exercise to achieve their objective.

This is in stark contrast to the mayhem on the M19 when a Durban Transport bus was set alight near the Quarry Road Informal Settlement during a protest, and what happened on Malandela Road in Kwamashu when residents barricaded the road with debris and set tyres alight ( Daily News, October 13). The reason for the violent protest in Reservoir Hills was the removal of illegal electricity connections, and in Kwamashu it was the demand for houses.

Whatever the dissatisfaction with local or national government, however legitimate, nothing can justify the use of force, violence and destruction. South Africa has come from a dark past where the majority were treated as second- class citizens – so it does not improve their lot to engage in activities that further destroy and damage their own infrastructure and the property of private individuals and government. This will only serve to diminish sympathy for their cause.

J LAZARUS | Phoenix