Cabinet slammed violent strike

BY Khanyisa Tabata
30 July 2009

Cabinet has slammed the violent protests and strikes that have swept South Africa in the recent weeks, saying that law enforcement agencies will act against those who act outside the law.

Cabinet condemns the violence, destruction to property, vandalism that have accompanied the protests and the intimidation of innocent citizens.

It has been reported that Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency Collins Chabane said while the government the right to protest and to withdraw labour in times of disputes, government believes that these demonstrations and protests must be peaceful and be in a frame work of law.

It has been reported that Chabane said law enforcement agencies will act against those who act outside the law and the Constitution of the country.

This comes after another violent service delivery protest at the Thokoza informal settlement in Johannesburg’s East Rand on Tuesday.

Angry protesters took to the streets demanding decent houses from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

It turned violent when the disgruntled residents barricaded the streets with burning tyres and stones. These measures include the establishment of a task team to visit.

The strikes come in a time when the country struggles through its first recession, making it difficult for government to meet their demands.