POLITICS

Prieska protestors are not above the law, SAPS must act – DA NCape

Party deeply concerned that the community and economy of the town have been forsaken by police

Prieska protestors are not above the law, SAPS must act

11 May 2021

Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English & Afrikaans from Reinette Liebenberg, MPL

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is urgently calling on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to reinforce its capacity in Prieska amidst an increasingly volatile situation in the town. This has been brought on by a mine related protest that has been carrying for almost two weeks already.

The DA is deeply concerned that the community and economy of Prieska have been forsaken by SAPS, who has failed to act swiftly against criminality in respect of the protest action.

Advice provided by the municipal manager, Ronnie Stadhouer, was to request Orion mine to stop all activities amidst yesterday’s closure of access roads to the mine and wind farms in the area, as well as the closure of business points, clinics and schools within the town (see pics here and here). His recommendation might have been perceived as support for protest action.

It seems that the intimidating protestors now have the upper hand and are being allowed to rule the town, despite a court interdict obtained by Orion mine against them. This, as SAPS has failed to enforce compliance to the interdict, in effect allowing the town to be shut down and cut off from the rest of the province, with even the main road to Upington being affected.

The consequences of the protest action are damning. The local economy has been dealt another blow, children have been deprived of going to school, while sick people are deprived of health services amidst a pandemic.

A military test facility, Alkantpan, is also affected by the strikes. This poses a very serious additional threat, if SAPS is not capacitated to act.

Although the situation in Prieska is calm today, the DA calls on SAPS to strengthen their own intelligence services, as well as policing capacity to bring stability and ensure the safety of all citizens in the Prieska area. Instigators of criminality should also be held accountable for damages incurred.

Stability is essential to ensure investor confidence, the ability to lift off production sites, and in effect for the survival of Prieska’s economy.

Issued by Reinette Liebenberg, DA Northern Cape Constituency Head for Central North, 11 May 2021