Pretoria - Police handled more than 12 000 public protests during the 2012/2013 financial year, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Thursday.
“Over the past four years, a total of 46 180 incidents were attended to and all were successfully stabilised, with 14 843 arrests effected,” he said at the release of the 2012/2013 crime statistics in Pretoria.
These were made up of 41 104 peaceful and 5 076 violent protests by the SA Municipal Workers Union, the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union, protests in De Doorns in the Western Cape, Marikana in the North West, and Zamdela in the Free State.
“During 2012/13 alone, police managed 12 399 public incidents. Of these 10 517 were peaceful and 1 882 were violent public protests with a total of 693 various criminal cases reported,” Mthethwa said.
“Most of the cases were reported in the Western Cape and North West provinces. Currently, stability has been restored.” - Sapa