NEWS NEWS
Village
The
17 July 2018
Cape Whale Coast
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Independent Newspaper of the Year
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, flanked by a bodyguard on her left and MPP Masizole Mnqasela on her right, visited Zwelihle with a delegation of non-partisan stakeholders on Friday afternoon and attempted to address the angry crowd gathered on the Mop hill. They were met with hostility and when the crown started pelting them with rocks, they had to be whisked away to safety by the SAPS. PHOTO: Anena Burger
‘Law and order will be restored’ n urgent need for decisive action to end the chaos was the unanimous decision reached by a multi-party stakeholder meeting on Sunday evening.
ment must be created for residents with specific information that can lead to the positive identification of suspects, and successful prosecution without fear of intimidation; no charges will be dropped against perpetrators of crime and those who commit crime must remain subjects of the criminal justice system.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) must be deployed in Zwelihle immediately; law and order must be restored in the suburb of Zwelihle by arresting the ringleaders fuelling the violence; a safe environ-
These were the four resolutions taken by the stakeholders on Sunday. The meeting, convened by Masizole Mnqasela, Member of the Provincial Parliament for the Overberg, was attended by Premier Helen Zille,
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work in defiance of the stay-away or refused to take part in the protests.
Western Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Hendrik Burger, both ANC and DA councillors, religious leaders form all suburbs, business owners and concerned residents.
At one point the meeting was stopped in order for all attendees to hold hands and pray for strength.
While the plight of Zwelihle residents during the past week were relayed at the meeting, several attendees burst into tears and loud sobbing echoed through the hall. Horrific stories of suffering were told about residents whose houses were demolished and all their belongings burnt in the street after they went to
According to reports, two mothers gave birth to stillborn babes after they inhaled large amounts of teargas and were denied leave to go to hospital for treatment. Many residents, including expectant mothers, have also not been able to eat as they are not allowed to leave the township.
“What is happening in Zwelihle is not what Zwelihle is,” said ANC Chief Whip in the Council, Simphiwe Tebele. “That is not the way our people live and who they are. What is happening is barbaric because innocent people who simply want to live their lives are being forced by a small minority to do things that are counter to who and what they are. The so-called leadership that has taken over the suburb is nothing other than thugs and criminals.” Read more on P 4
