Cape Town - The City of Cape Town says it has video footage of ANC members leading violent service delivery protests, and it will call on police and the National Prosecuting Authority to arrest and charge them.
The ANC has denied organising illegal protests.
The city was to have briefed police and the media on Wednesday on the economic effects of the spate of service delivery protests around the city, but the briefing was postponed at the instruction of Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, who is said to have been displeased with the scope of the presentation after viewing a dry run on Tuesday.
The presentation is understood to include footage of illegal protesters, who the city claims are ANC members, leading protests, burning tyres and committing illegal acts.
JP Smith, mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, said he had been acting on instructions from Zille when he sent out notice of the postponement.
“Admittedly, the presentation was put together at the last minute and we agree with the premier that more time would be needed to consolidate all of our information. We have recently received additional evidence from informants about key instigators. The presentation would probably be on Monday, Smith said.
Smith said the presentation would look at the cost to the city due to the vandalism, traffic delays and negative investment fallout associated with the protests; the city’s “reward-for-information” programme which will see payouts to the public who assist in securing the arrest and conviction of protesters; and footage identifying protesters, who Smith claims are ANC members.
Protests have become increasingly violent, with cars being stoned on the N2. Smith said he feared that the violence would result in deaths, and has asked police to arrest key protesters and for the NPA to secure convictions.
He will present CCTV footage of protests where ringleaders can be identified. Smith said this footage proved that the protests were “politically motivated actions by members of the ANC”.
“We have photos of protesters wearing ANC logos. We have... identified protesters at ANC events and on ANC social media platforms. This is evidence of a political underpinning.”
The ANC’s Phillip Dexter was outraged by Smith’s accusations: “If he has proof of a conspiracy, let him present it. We have said time and again that members of the ANC who are involved in anti-social behaviour will be subject to disciplinary hearings. Protesters who partake in these illegal protests are not acting on behalf of the ANC.”
Cape Argus