RESPONSE TO VIOLENT PROTEST ON THE N2

We recognise the right of people to express their views and protest, but
this government will not tolerate indiscriminate violence where property is
vandalized. 

Where the law has been broken and property vandalized we urge the South
African Police Service to use all available measures at their disposal to
investigate and prosecute those responsible.

Thubelisha, as the project manager of the N2 Gateway Pilot Project, is
responsible for interacting with residents, and we have the fullest
confidence in their handling of it. Their consultation with communities is
ongoing, at the cost of delaying construction of the project. The violence
today is therefore completely unjustified. Thubelisha will be reporting to
us on a daily basis on the developments and we urge residents to work with
them.

Residents of the Joe Slovo informal settlement must decide whether they wish
to cooperate with government. In this way they will qualify for housing
opportunities. If they choose not to cooperate, they will be removed
completely from all housing waiting lists.

We were informed by officials of the South African Police Service that the
protesters called themselves PAC members, and that they were joined by a PAC
city councilor, Councilor Joka. We¹ll be investigating this to ensure that
appropriate steps are taken.

If indeed this was a PAC protest, it would confirm our worst suspicion that
opportunistic individuals and/or parties are using Cape Town¹s housing
crisis to their advantage.

I have a meeting with the PAC leadership in Parliament today to discuss the
matter.

Representatives of National and Provincial Departments of Housing are
monitoring the situation.  We take note of the comments made by the Mayor of
Cape Town and are happy to deal with this matter on our own.

This statement was issued for the Ministry of Housing. For more information
please call Monwabisi Maclean on 082 882 2962.

Ends