Thursday, 6 August 2020
Ward Councillor Roberto Miguel Quintas
The ongoing illegal protest and land invasions being witnessed in Hout Bay, South Africa, must be condemned for the blatant criminality that it really is.
It is farcical at best, that peaceful protestors who socially distanced with masks outside Parliament in order to call attention to the demise of the hospitality and tourism industry are water cannoned and stun grenaded immediately by the South African Police Services, yet when protestors without masks, who are damaging public and private property, and who are throwing stones at vehicles and setting fire to infrastructure are left to create wholesale damage and terror in a community.
Facebook:
SOUTH AFRICA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/south.africa.rsa
WESTERN CAPE:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/western.cape.group
CAPE TOWN:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cape.town.group
NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/namibia.namibia
It is unconscionable that the rights of law abiding citizens to freedom of movement, and the right to walk freely without intimidation, and the rights of property can be infringed by criminal elements who mask intimidation and arson and vandalism and land grabbing as “protest action”.
Today for the first time since Saturday, someone from the community of Imizamo Yethu has accepted some responsibility for the violence and civil unrest, and has requested that the City address their grievances regarding EPWP appointments and contractor appointments.
An official from the Mayor’s Stakeholder Engagement Unit has been dispatched to interface and arrange a meeting with myself and the Mayor and relevant departments in this regard.
It is important to note, that the reason for this unrest has changed on a near daily basis, and began as service delivery regarding toilets, then became unhappiness over the lack of youth opportunities and economic development and has now become unhappiness around EPWP contracts.
It is my opinion, that much of this is a smoke screen to attract attentions or services and media to the foreground, whilst illegal land grabs are taking place up the mountain and in the background.
In regards to this, the City has twice removed illegal structures in that area, and will continue to do so as soon as our operations in Du Noon and Kraaifontein are completed.
I must also condemn in the strongest possible terms, the attacks on ratepayer homes and attempted arson as well as intimidation of residents of Penzance Estate who have born the brunt of illegal and criminal activities by “protestors”, and I call on the South African Police Services to fulfill their duties and investigate with an aim to arrest, charge and convict perpetrators.
I have made contact with officials and services and we are exploring legal mechanisms that will allow for the immediate arrests of those involved in land grabs on City property in that area.
I have also engaged the offices of the Premier and Mayor and requested that a high level City, Province and SAPS meeting take place as soon as possible with an aim to addressing long term joint systems to protect law abiding citizens and their property as well as the property of the State.
The City is building formal housing in Imizamo Yethu, we are implementing stages of our Superblocking program, we have embarked on electrification programs in IY and we have continued to act in good faith for the benefit of the community, and it is a travesty that a handful of lawless agitators can bring development to its knees, break faith and deter the much needed investment in Hout Bay that creates jobs. My thoughts and prayers are with the law abiding majority of Hout Bay who are living in fear and who are seeing their lives, livelihoods and primary assets affected by the malignant actions of a few, and without the necessary response being taken by SAPS.
We understand that SAPS is inundated with requests across the City to respond to public violence, and for them to fulfill their mandate and responsibility to ensuring the safety of citizens, however I have urged Colonel Labuschagne of Wynberg SAPS to assist their law enforcement services on the ground in Hout Bay.
End
