In recent years we have seen violent protests in different communities across the country.
Many have associated or linked the protest to the politics because they usually spread out during either local or national elections.
Many also claim that they are fueled by the political factions trying to discredit those who are in power.
The protesters destruct and vandalise the public infrastructure to put their point across.
I was startled when I saw pictures on social media about the protesters in Meyerton who dug a trench across the road preventing motorists from using the road.
We have seen the residents in Vuwani, Limpopo torching schools and preventing learners from going to school because they were not happy with the new demarcation.
We have seen in media broadcasts and the papers how residents in the troubled North West province torch historical buildings.
Moving closer to home, the residents of Lindelani, who blocked, removed and damaged the traffic lights in the area. This is the area where the traffic is really bad during office hours. There is even a pointsman stationed at the busy road to help school learners to cross the road to access the schools in the nearby township.
Don’t get me wrong, I support residents and civil society standing up and voicing their grievances.
This is what democracy, which was achieved in 1994, is about. Citizens have the right to hold their leaders, be it presidents, mayors or councillors, accountable.
But what exactly do we achieve when we are not happy about service delivery but at the same point damage the limited infrastructure we have?
Are we truly expecting the same government, with a limping budget, to fix the damaged properties?
Are we not delaying service delivery because the same government we are not happy with has to find funds to repair the damages?
I am not one to judge but are there not other ways that we can use to put our grievances across without taking to such extreme measures?
I believe it is about time we think about our actions, responsibility.
We are the government of this country and not our elected leaders.
Let us at the least try to review and consider the consequences of our actions.
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