ANC Youth League Western Cape condemns the looting and criminality in Cape Town

The ANC Youth League condemns in the strongest terms the violence and looting that occurred in Cape Town earlier today. There is no justification for the criminal activity that occurred. Those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.

No amount of frustration can be used as an excuse to harbour and protect thieves and looters. It is sad that the legitimate plight of people demanding quality service delivery and access to land was vulgarised by thugs hiding amongst people with legitimate concerns.

The ANC Youth League will never support such anarchy. We live in a democratic South Africa where service delivery concerns ought to be championed within the framework of the law. We will always support our people in their genuine demands for a better life, but will never tolerate looting or violence as a method of protest.

The ANC and by implication the ANC Youth League has always been and remains a peaceful and peace-loving movement in championing the legitimate concerns of all South Africans.

The ANC Youth League therefore unequivocally distances itself in the strongest possible terms from rogue elements who opportunistically use public platforms for ventilating genuine community concerns for their selfish interests by taking advantage of the plight of the most vulnerable in our society and to sew division and discord in our movement and amongst our people through mob-like behaviour and thuggery.

These are not the true values of upstanding community activists who claim to have a genuine concern for the most vulnerable in our society and the plight of their struggle. 

Statement issued by Muhammad Khalid Sayed. ANC Youth League Western Cape Provincial Task Team (PTT) Convenor, October 30 2013

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