“We call on our people to refrain from being misled by people with an agenda to destroy our country based on narrow political interests.”
THE POLICE and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Northern Cape has urged members to resist the temptation to “opportunistically benefit” by participating in looting.
Popcru provincial secretary Boitumelo Pheleo believed that the country would suffer serious setbacks as a result of the ongoing looting, violence and vandalism.
“We are disturbed by the ongoing looting taking palace in our country in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. We are told that the protests are in response to the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma and some have even suggested that these protests are ethnically motivated,” said Pheleo.
“While we agree to a certain extent that some protesters are underprivileged and marginalised, they are not living on the edge of starvation, given the social security system. People living in much worse social and material conditions have been able to organise themselves into political forces with clear agendas.”
He believed that the rioters lacked a clear programme to express their dissatisfaction.
“We condemn the violence, looting and destruction of property that amounts to the highest level of criminal activity. We call on our people to refrain from being misled by people with an agenda to destroy our country based on narrow political interests. We must denounce criminality and defend our local economy, we must start investing in an inclusive economy where the majority of our people are absorbed into the mainstream economy.”
SACP provincial spokesperson Patrick Bosiame meanwhile called on residents to defend themselves against acts of “thuggery and counter-revolution”.
“We condemn the current violence in the country, not only as criminal acts but as well-planned and orchestrated acts of counter-revolution by political bandits to sabotage our economy and effect regime change. These acts have the potential of spilling over to other areas and be used to mobilise our people under false pretext that may ultimately destroy the country’s productive capacities, with negative effects on people-centred development,” said Bosiame.
He encouraged communities to work with law enforcement agencies to bring thugs and criminals to book.
“The criminal justice system must ensure that all those involved in acts of criminality face the full might of the law.
“We applaud community peace initiatives against crime, such as Wanya Tsotsi and neighbourhood watch structures, for ensuring minimal damage to property and looting and safety in our communities.”
