Port Elizabeth – The Executive Mayor for the Baviaans Municipality in the Cacadu District of the Eastern Cape was struck over his head with a knobkierie by angry protesters on Friday.
Baviaans Constituency leader and MP, Dr Malcom Figg, said that the Democratic Alliance condemned the “vicious and ugly assault” of Mayor Ewald Loock who was allegedly hit by striking workers in Willowmore.
According to police workers have been protesting in the area for most of this week.
“This thuggery must be stopped. The local Willowmore police have failed to act and ensure that the striking workers do not damage municipal property and assault employees in keeping with a court order. The police cannot stand idly by while violent assault and damage to property are the order of the day,” said Figg.
Figg said that his colleague MPL Marshall von Buchenroder contacted the South Africa Police Service at a provincial level and police would now deploy a Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) to Willlowore.
“This should have happened long ago. Why does it take blood to flow for the police to act?” asked Figg.
“The strike is around pay parity, as a result of the Rietbron-area being added to the Baviaans Municipality. This is not an issue that the Baviaans Municipality can resolve alone. This needs the intervention of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and the Department of Cooperative Governance.”
Provincial police spokesperson, Major Ernest Sigobe, said that POPS from Port Elizabeth were at the scene and although the protest was continuing the situation was under control.
Sigobe said police were investigating a case of public violence, malicious damage to property and assault.
African News Agency