The Democratic Alliance says the assault on the Germiston Civic Centre last Monday, in which at least one staff member was severely injured and others caught up in the line of fire, could have been avoided by the ANC.
DA leader Shelley Loe said the ruling party’s refusal to deal with the unhappiness of the MK veterans had left innocent staff members vulnerable.
This came after the attacks that took place when protesters stormed the Germiston Civic Centre on Monday (August 26).
“The DA has, for the past five years, been pressurising the ANC, in the Community Safety Oversight Committee, to deal with the Demilitarisation Programme via which the veterans are demanding pay outs in recognition of the part they played in the struggle years,” said Angela Barnes DA media liaison officer.
“This is not the first time MK vets have stormed the civic centre, which is the head office of the EMM council, but, until now, the EMPD have managed to keep the protesters at bay.
“However, past incidents should have served as a strong warning to the ruling party that trouble was brewing and swift action had to be taken to keep a lid on the boiling pot.
“The ANC’s stalling tactics resulted in Khosi Dlamini, the manager of political offices, being beaten up and many others being traumatised,” she added.
Shadow MMC for Community Safety Michéle Clarke said the vulnerability of the building was, in itself, disgraceful, taking into account the R101-million is spent by council on outside security services annually, to secure the civic buildings in the metro.
“Not only is the ANC guilty of leaving MK vets to simmer for too long, but they left the building itself open to attack,” said Barnes.
“Despite a long line of EMPD officers standing in front of the angry mob, many simply walked past and through the open basement parking lot doors and made their way up to the top offices.
“We believe they made their way straight to the boardroom of the Chief Whip where he, the Mayor and the Speaker were meeting,” explained Barnes.
The DA will be calling for an urgent investigation into why security services were not efficient on the day and also for immediate steps to be taken to ensure that staff members are safe from now on.
“The DA will not sit by while innocent people pay the price of political incompetence and dilly dallying,” added Barnes.
