SERVICE DELIVERY protests in South Africa that began last Sunday had turned violent by yesterday as frustrated township dwellers in two provinces burned tyres, assaulted members of the public and set alight municipal buildings.
Anger at the state’s perceived inaction in dealing with corrupt local government officials, and the slow delivery of basic amenities, has been slowly building in the townships since last April’s general election.
The country’s fourth democratic election was won by the African National Congress (ANC), which promised to redouble its efforts to improve the lives of millions of South Africans who remain impoverished despite the end of apartheid 15 years ago and unprecedented development.
However, the election victory has coincided with the onset of the country’s first recession in a decade, and many of the election promises made on the campaign trail have failed to materialise, leading to widespread frustration.
Promises to create half a million jobs by the end of the year have already been shelved by the ANC as the party has come to terms with the depth of the recession facing the country.
The government has indicated that state revenue sources will fall short of their targets by at least 70 billion rand ($9.5 billion) this year due to the economic downturn and mounting job loses.
By early yesterday morning protests that began in a township in Mpumalanga province, in the northeast on Sunday, had spread to a half dozen other settlements around the country as protesters increased their calls for better accountability, sanitation and improved housing.
Near Standerton in Mpumalanga, police officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters from the Sakhile township who set up blockades, attacked people on their way to work and looted shops in the area.
“All roads leading to and inside Sakhile township are closed and the situation is very tense but police are monitoring it,” said Capt Leonard Hlathi, who added that 41 people had been arrested since Sunday night.
Residents from the area told reporters they were angry after an investigation found several municipal officials and councillors had been implicated in fraud, maladministration and corruption, but the alleged perpetrators had yet to be dealt with by the authorities.
It was reported that protesters at Siyathuthuka – another township in Mpumalanga – who took to the streets in the early hours of yesterday morning had set a number of municipal buildings alight.
Supt Abie Khoabane said: “There is damage to property, I can confirm there is damage to buildings. We are there and trying to monitor; it’s still blockaded. People are throwing stones; the protest action is still in progress. We are trying to stop them from moving into the town.”
Tensions were also said to be high at Palm Ridge, east of Johannesburg, where there was a heavy police presence following violent outbursts on Monday.
According to police, 61 arrests had been made by yesterday and 15 people had been injured.
Three of those arrested allegedly set local councillor Nkabi Zulu’s home alight on Monday evening.
As a relative calm descended on hot spots last night, police said they would remain vigilant.