/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Gauteng Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Infrastructure Development Jacob Mamabolo has condemns in the strongest of terms, the vandalism and torching of public property during a protest in Duduza outside Nigel, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

Residents who are reportedly dissatisfied with the recruitment in a local manufacturing contract have reportedly burnt a community multi-purpose centre, a post office and vandalised street lights on their path.

“This is the most unacceptable and unfortunate conduct, one can’t destroy assets of the community because you are dissatisfied with other issues. Our province cannot be a place where investment in public property is reduced to rubble,” Mamabolo said. He added that the criminal acts by those who have no respect for the people’s assets should be condemned and isolated by communities across the province.

“These acts are not only senseless, but give the impression that our province is on fire, thus chasing away potential investors from investing in township infrastructure,” he said.

The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) has taken the campaign for the protection of public property known as I Care We Care to communities, in a bid to educate citizens about the importance of preserving and protecting the community’s assets, the people's shared heritage. MEC Mamabolo says the department will intensify the campaign so that incidents such as those that have occurred in Duduza are never repeated in Gauteng.

Mamabolo has called on community leaders to take responsibility and isolate the criminals who have robbed the community of Duduza of important facilities by razing them to the ground and report them to law enforcement.

“Our department has been instructed by Premier David Makhura to spearhead the spatial transformation of townships. But how do we continue spending the people’s money on building infrastructure that will be reduced to rubble in no time?”  He said the vandalism and destruction of property is undermining efforts by government to develop precincts in townships that will attract investors and create employment.
“Through their irrational and senseless actions these criminals and outlaws are robbing Duduza of much needed development. They have not only managed to destroy brick and mortar, but have essentially thrown taxpayers’ money down the drain. In fact government will have to spend more taxpayers’ money to repair the damage, which takes us backwards as a province,” he added.

Mamabolo has called on law enforcement to spare no action in speedily catching to criminals behind these acts of violence and ensure that they face the full might of the law.

 

Issued by the Department of Infrastructure Development