Protest ‘anarchy’ must stop – MEC

Anarchy brought about by illegal protests across KZN must stop. This was the word from MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, who declared a war on illegal protests in KZN.

The declaration came about at an integrated law enforcement meeting on Tuesday, 24 July to devise a plan to eliminate illegal and violent public protests that have mushroomed recently.

In the previous financial year, KZN recorded more than 530 public protests.
Over the past four months over 270 illegal protests have been reported in the province.

Toti motorists were twice inconvenienced by protests on the N2. The work week started with motorists gridlocked on the N2 southbound in the morning when the Delangokubona Business Forum threw rubbish across the highway.

READ ALSO: Protest causes disruption in refuse collection service

On Tuesday burning tyres were placed across the northbound carriageway, caused a backup of traffic between Toti and Prospecton, near Joyner Road.

READ ALSO: Burning tyre N2 blockade gridlocks N2 Amanzimtoti traffic

“We remind people that Section 17 of Chapter 2 of the Constitution provides that “everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions”.

Any demonstration not complying with this Act is therefore unlawful. Unfortunately, most protests in the province do not adhere to the provisions of this act in one or more way and have adverse repercussions for our communities, commuters and economy. It is therefore important for us to manage such protests appropriately and in accordance with the law.

We want to therefore declare a war on these illegal protests. As the provincial government, we are saying that individuals who are implicated in these illegal protests in our communities must face the full might of the law. Any person who blocks roads conducts a criminal act and will be charged and prosecuted. This anarchy must now come to an end.

These illegal protests have also resulted in unnecessary confrontation between the police and communities. The police have a duty to protect every right in the constitution, including the right of those who are not part of the protests, which forces them to divert their focus and attention, leaving criminals roaming our streets.

We call upon the protest organisers to ensure that they use government platforms of engagement provided by our Constitution and laws to raise their concerns on service delivery.”

The Provincial Executive Council, under the leadership of Premier Willies Mchunu, has established a sub-committee on public protests that is tasked with devising a strategy that will deal with public protests. The provincial government has given this sub-committee three months to eradicate illegal protests. Anyone who wants to embark on a protest must follow the correct legal processes or otherwise face the full might of the law.