‘Politically-driven’ protests will be met with force - Herman Mashaba
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has vowed to clamp down violent protests which he believes to be politically-driven.
Mashaba claims several of the city’s projects have been destroyed by ANC-aligned local business forums.
Mayoral spokesperson Olebogeng Molatlhwa says several projects, including the Rea Vaya Station in Thokoza Park and the Opportunity Centre in the Soweto Empowerment Zone have either been damaged or destroyed.
Molatlhwa says while these type of protests will be met by force, the city is not calling on the metro police or the police to harm anyone.
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"What is meant by that is - obviously we're not looking for a random gunshot in the streets - what is meant by force is that it should be equivalent to the sort of situation that is being confronted.
"The number aim here is to save lives, restore law and order but also to protect the particular infrastructure where these disruptions have been taking place. This is not an encouragement for the JMPD or the police to act with force where none is warranted."
Mashaba will also be approaching the Hawks to investigate these cases as organised criminal activity.
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