Ward councillor weighs in on unrest

Following the unrest that gripped the province last week, ward 97 councillor, André Beetge, weighed in on the matter.  According to Beetge, it appears there is much more to this masterminded plan.

He answers what happened, why and where to from here?

“In reality, what unfolded were certainly not sporadic nor isolated incidents. Activities unfolded in a coordinated manner to destabilise the economy to the point of racial divide essentially fuelled by an array of unsubstantiated and untraceable messages with no other objective than keeping the tension a reality. The purpose was to ignite underlying tension, cause neighbour to turn on neighbour, friends and acquaintances to question the loyalty and essentially destabilise trust. The information would have it that it took little to encourage right-wing sentiment, in turn creating division along racial lines fuelled by an array of circulated messages and the temptation of looting against the backdrop of personal and family safety.”

He said that residential areas were never the intended target nor was Amanzimtoti a priority.

“Galleria was only under threat from a small number of about 300 unorganised people, easily subdued by a collective effort from local SAPS, private security industry and a few community volunteers on Monday. Subsequent threats, that included the total devastation of Storage City at the top end of Fynn Road, adjacent V’s Hardware and Deepak Hardware top of School Road, appear more opportunistic as opposed to being part of the initial destabilisation plan.  As official intelligence reports however continued placing both Galleria and AECI as high risk, mandated forces that include SANDF remain deployed towards this node.”

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Given the limited available number of SAPS and Metro Police, community initiatives towards the fortification of Seadoone Road, the R102 at Umgababa and R603 from Umbumbulu were not necessarily discouraged.

“There appeared no immediate threat towards southern suburbs, SAPS dedicated a liaison officer to guide and oversee these fortifications. The intent of which was essentially a show of united force and community ‘eyes and ears’ leaving mandated forces to concentrate on the threat directed towards the Galleria and Arbour node.  Matters took a turn for the worst when on Tuesday evening and following Mobeni falling to looters, large quantities of contraband started finding it’s way towards Amanzimtoti to the point where the SAPS holding facilities were unable to cope with the volume and an alternative yet secure location had to be identified to receive such goods.”

The municipal-owned Councillors Chambers in Kingsway, which is also under 24 hours security guard became an extension of the SAPS holding facility and goods so received, remained under the control of SAPS and subject to police procedures.  Foodstuff received was noted and disposed of through a network managed by the KZN Council of Churches that include various NGOs. At no time, except nappies to distressed households, did the councillor identify recipients, remove, deliver or direct any goods directly from the facility or any other facility of entity towards a specific recipient, grouping or entity. All foodstuff were subsequently accounted for and removed from the premises by SAPS after space opened up at the police station.

“Large quantities of contraband goods however disappeared from the roadside with some being offered for sale on social media platforms which in itself is a criminal offence.  As much as the situation brought out the good in people, sadly it also succeeded in bringing out the very bad in some with reports of assault, damage to property, racial profiling, human rights violations, armed robbery and gunshot injuries still being reported to the point where the initial situation is now being turned around to portray instead the minority as victimising and harassing the majority, which is exactly what the masterminds behind the plan intended.”

His office manned checkpoints, but instead, the role of coordination between mandated stakeholders in terms of a government gazette circulated early last week.

“Despite their efforts and various other objectives that included the regularisation of roadblocks and checkpoints as part of a SAPS and Community Police Forum (CPF) mandate being communicated to various stakeholders, the councillors office appeared portrayed as being opposed to the efforts of the people when indeed it was striving to coordinate various mandates to retain calm and transition with least disruption.”

ALSO READ: Residents urged to remain indoors following unrest

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