Listen: Fighting talk from Minister Fikile Mbalula about Eldos protests

Police and criminals do not mix.

May 11, 2017

Enver Wessels 2 minutes read

Minister of police Fikile Mbalula addressing police in the aftermath of violent protests in Eldorado Park.

The Eldorado Park Police Station was the scene of fighting talk from newly appointed Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula yesterday evening.

This was in response to the violent two-day protests which engulfed Eldorado Park and surrounding areas this past Monday and Tuesday.

Top brass from the Soweto East Cluster Command was at the meeting to hear the minister’s address.

The protests started out as service delivery protests with housing and unemployment at the top of the agenda but quickly turned violent as rock-throwing demonstrators pelted police vehicles with rocks.

Police responded with rubber bullets and running battles took place between police and protesters.

Reports of residents hit by rubber bullets while not being part of the protests spread as the injured showed their wounds amidst claims that police were firing indiscriminately.

**The top brass of the police listening to minister Mbalula speaking out against violent protests**.

It is believed that the protests were ignited by a meeting at the Don Mateman Civic Centre to discuss the lack of adequate housing in the area.

What many thought would be a regular Monday quickly turned into chaos as streets were barricaded and tyres burnt in the streets.

Various police units were deployed to disperse crowds gathered along the Main Road, Union Road, Freedom Park, Joe Slovo Park and a number of areas involved in the protest.

Areas like Ennerdale, Orange Farm, and Vlakfontein joined Eldorado Park residents and things quickly got out of hand as youths as young as 9 years old joined in the strike and started looting a number of businesses.

Vandalism was rife and looters caused untold damage to buildings and infrastructure, going as far as ripping out traffic lights, and damaging road signs.

Although calm has returned to Eldorado Park, most businesses remained closed on Wednesday.

This meant that most households without cars could not purchase basic household necessities such as milk and bread. Parents, concerned for their children’s safety, have kept children out of school. Normal schooling is expected to resume this coming Monday.

**Minister Fikile Mbalula emphatic about fighting anarchy**.

Minister Mbalula said, “We will not tolerate lawlessness, we will not tolerate anarchy.

“Anarchy stands for the highest state of disorder.”

He went on to say that, “Nothing warrants the civil disobedience and anarchy we have seen.”

The real casualties of the two-day protests have been the children who have been shot and arrested while the organisers among them known drug dealers and criminals have emerged unscathed, according to the minister.

Referring to the recovery of an estimated R100,000 worth of goods at the Joe Slovo informal settlement earlier on the day, he added, “They must know, wherever they are, wherever they are going to be sleeping tonight, we are coming after them.”

Mbalula reiterated that everyone had the democratic right to protest against the government, but warned that demonstrations needed to be conducted in compliance with the law.

This he said, would ensure the protection of citizens by police.

Listen to Minister Fikile’s Full Address below: