Cape Town - Following a meeting with Dunoon community leaders and the African National Congress (ANC) ward councillor, Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille on Tuesday lashed out the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who have been alleged to instigate unrest in the area.
“Collectively, we condemn what these EFF thugs and gangsters are doing,” said De Lille.
“It is increasing the suffering of all the people of Dunoon. Children are being prevented from going to school, and parents are being prevented from going to work to provide for their families.”
De Lille, Dunoon leaders, and the ANC ward councillor Lubabalo Makeleni met on Monday night to discuss the increasing unrest and violence in the area, ongoing since Sunday.
Since Sunday, “major roads have been blocked with burning tyres, public infrastructure has been vandalised, shops belonging to foreigners have been looted, and people’s lives are being threatened.”
On Monday night, incidents in the area included roughly 400 people gathering to protest at about 7pm, stoning of vehicles, and the burning of tyres.
De Lille linked the unrest to the EFF’s campaign, requesting they abstain from violence and destruction: “They cannot try to gain votes at the expense of the poor through the destruction of public and private property”.
De Lille said the City, the community leaders, and Makeleni condemned the violence with the “full contempt it deserves”.
“We cannot allow politically-driven anarchy and destruction to hold this community hostage,” she said.
De Lille would again meet with Dunoon leaders in the week commencing April 25 to follow up on the discussions of Monday night.
African News Agency