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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng requests the MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko and the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, to engage the national government to provide more support to law enforcement agencies to deal with the strike action in Tshwane.

It is clear that this strike action has now become organised crime, and it is time for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to treat this as a priority crime.

Crime intelligence is a vital function of the SAPS and helps the police to curb crime before it happens. Therefore, SMS, WhatsApp and telegram messages that indicate there may be violent action taken against city officials must be investigated.

It is unacceptable that the City of Tshwane (CoT) is being held ransom by striking workers demanding a wage increase that would place the city in financial distress. In the most recent round of attacks, a water tanker was torched, and a driver attacked.

While the DA supports the Constitutional right to strike we condemn the criminal actions taken by the striking workers. The DA, through the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), will put pressure on the MEC and the Provincial Police Commissioner to urgently ensure that all law enforcement agencies work together to clamp down on the violent protests plaguing CoT.

Issued by Crezane Bosch MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety