The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to publicly condemn the EFF’s violent vigilante behaviour that has resulted in the destruction of property.
The party said: “While we recognize the deep hurt and anger which the careless Clicks advert has caused to many South Africans and we condemn any form of racial stereotyping.
[NOW] Sedibeng regional secretary @shaun_mohono with fighters at vaal mall. It's day 2 of the peaceful #Clicks #clicksmustfall #ClicksShutdown protest. #EFFMustRise pic.twitter.com/B1UmhJalvE
— EFF Sedibeng (@Effsedibeng1) September 8, 2020
There is no place for such shameless racial stereotyping in our society. Equally there is no place for vigilante violence as a remedy in a constitutional democracy.”
“The police have a responsibility to maintain law and order and protect our citizens. They simply cannot be missing in action in the face of the EFF’s anti-democratic behaviour and violent actions which have caused mayhem across the country.”
As the Police Minister, he cannot remain quiet while criminality and chaos reign.”
The DA’s spokesperson on police, Andrew Whitfield, said that the behaviour was political thuggery.
“While we are glad that the Court has taken this decision to prevent the EFF’s violence and thuggery, the question that we should be asking ourselves is, where was the South African Police Services (SAPS) and why did they do nothing when EFF leader, Julius Malema, and his band of quasi-revolutionaries ran amok in shopping centres, causing serious damage at various Clicks stores across the country?”
Whitfield added that on Monday he laid charges against Julius Malema and the EFF for incitement to violence, malicious damage to property and intimidation and provided SAPS with evidence of these offences.
