Illegal protests cost Gauteng millions
229 Illegal protests have cost the province R10 million since June 2014.
According to a response from Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane to written questions from the Democratic Alliance (DA), illegal protests have cost the province more than R10 million since 1 June 2014.
There have been 229 illegal protests within this period; of this 131 protests were directly linked to service delivery.
Johannesburg recorded the highest number of protests with 110, while Ekurhuleni and Tshwane recorded 84 and 35 respectively.
The cost in damages and police services required to control these protests is R10 210 500 in just three months.
Alan Fuchs MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Infrastructure Development says “The DA supports the right of South Africans to peaceful and law-abiding protest but violence at such events is never acceptable and clearly costs the public dearly.
“It is clear however, that much unhappiness in the province stems directly from poor government delivery and the inability of officials to adequately liaise with communities about their concerns.
“Government must respond to residents before they feel the need to embark on illegal and destructive protest action.
“The DA will continue to work within the provincial legislature to ensure that the voice of the people of Gauteng is heard and that government is accountable and responsive to their needs.”
