Eastern Cape premier calls for calm as violent protest continues

Premier of the Eastern Cape, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has called for calm and condemned the violent protest by taxi operators in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro.

CAPE TOWN, May 25 (ANA) – Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane on Tuesday called for calm and condemned violent protests by taxi operators in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area.

In a statement, Mabuyane condemned the blockade on the N2 highway near Makhanda as well as Johnson Road in Missionvale by taxi operators amid service delivery protests.

“While we all have the constitutionally guaranteed right to engage in peaceful protest, it cannot be that we will allow for the destruction of both public and private property,” Mabuyane said.

The disruption of normal daily activities including the forceful closure of businesses and schools would never be tolerated, he added.

Mabuyane said he had directed Eastern Cape member of the executive council for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Xolile Nqatha to visit Makhanda in a bid to resolve challenges within local municipality.

He called for calm and asked protesters to allow a process of dialogue between the local government and the community to take place. Nqatha is expected to visit the area on Wednesday.

Acting chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Prince Matonsi said the organisation was deeply concerned about the adverse effects of the ongoing protests on the local economy.

The cessation of work meant that businesses could not operate at full capacity and this could be damaging, he said.

Matonsi said the business chamber recognised the right to strike but condemned the destruction and damage to infrastructure that accompanied the protests.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa