Westbury can be a good lesson

We have seen street protests come and go, with no solution to the problems raised.

Most have been politically motivated with protagonists having selfish agendas. These almost always turned into violence and looting.

But with the current Westbury/Sophiatown protests the scene was different. The community at large took to the streets for two specific reasons: to protest against gangs, with the attendant drug problem, as well as alleged corruption among the local police. Activists gave the assurance the protest was not political. In fact, they insisted political parties or their spokespeople stay out of it.

What was particularly noteworthy was the way Police Minister Bheki Cele, pictured, handled the situation. He showed empathy and promised a positive turnaround. A poignant moment was when he put his arms around a teenager after she tearfully pleaded for help to protect the children from murderers and rapists. Cele suggested she addresses parliament in person, which he would action.

Who knows, this could be a watershed case, and the forerunner of successful outcomes in other troubled areas.

Henry CB, George