The Democratic Alliance welcomes the arrest of seven protestors involved in the taxi strike that brought Nelson Mandela Bay to a standstill today.
The DA is challenging Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, to intervene and address the grievances raised by the taxi associations. SAPS must also bring the full might of the law to bear against these illegal protests.
It is simply unacceptable that the lives of residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are disrupted over a dispute between the taxi associations and the ANC-led national government, relating to the non-payment of Covid-19 subsidies.
The DA is extremely concerned about the increasingly violent protests that are taking place across the province. This is not the way to get issues resolved.
Based on the level of destruction and violence in Nelson Mandela Bay today, it is surprising that more individuals were not arrested.
SAPS can no longer afford to sit idly by and watch, while individuals set vehicles alight and endanger the lives of citizens.
The individuals arrested for allegedly damaging infrastructure between Trucker’s Inn and Neptune Road, in the vicinity of Coega must be made an example of.
Residents who are fed up with having their lives disrupted in this manner must exercise their democratic right to choose, and vote for real change in the upcoming local government elections.