JP Smith's Response to Khayelitsha Violence Anti-Poor and Unconstitutional
Today's Cape Times reports that Mayoral Committee Member for Community Safety JP Smith refuses to deploy additional metro police units in Khayelitsha, as residents there "do not pay rates".
The Councilor is quoted as saying that he would not "squander more resources on the area" as this would mean taking resources away "from other areas where people do pay their rates", and asks "why should a group of people who resort to violence be prioritised?"
This was in response to questions arising from the inadequate police response to violent protests that have affected thousands of residents in Khayelitsha for the past month. Smith's comments are anti-poor, naive, and unconstitutional. They set a very dangerous precedent for the delivery of basic services to those most in need, and may very well contribute to continued violence affecting those living and working in the area.
The Social Justice Coalition (along with the Treatment Action Campaign, Equal Education, and COSATU Khayelitsha) has from the outset condemned the protests that have devastated parts of Khayelitsha. We condemned Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape for initiating an "informal settlement strike" - which called on residents to cause "chaos" and render the City "ungovernable" - and the ANC Youth League for later joining these protests[1].
Since the protest action commenced, at least twenty vehicles have been stoned and set alight causing public transport to come to a halt for many weeks. Residents are being intimidated by protestors. A local fire station was stoned. Municipal services ceased to operate, leaving refuse to collect in the streets and pathways, posing significant health risks to residents. The fire department has been unable to respond to fires, leaving shacks to burn. Innocent bystanders have been shot at with rubber bullets by police responding to protests.