ANC unleashes reign of terror in Bushbuckridge
by James Masango MPL – DA Leader in Mpumalanga
Date: 05 April 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
Premier David Mabuza’s naked ambition to land a senior post in the ANC, at the party’s December elective congress, has given rise to a campaign of terror in Bushbuckridge. He is using proxies to intimidate residents from protesting against poor service delivery in the area.
The DA calls on the Premier to stop using his members to terrorise communities to advance his own agenda.
Bushbuckridge has been the centre of violent protest actions in the province for more than a month, where community members have been protesting for better road infrastructure.
The protests have seen 2 schools getting burnt, leaving some scholars in Bushbuckridge stranded unable to attend school.
According to media reports ANC members, some of whom are alleged to be Umkhonto weSizwe veterans who “volunteered” to protect pupils following the torching of the schools in Bushbuckridge, have unleashed a reign of terror in the area.
Reports indicate that residents are allegedly being assaulted with pickaxe handles by the very same volunteers, who are also patrolling the streets of Marite Township in a bid to help police quell the violence.
Three men, Tumelo Mokoena, 26, Joe Nkomo and Fortune Brown, 35, – were taken to Matikwane Hospital after the volunteers allegedly bludgeoned them with pickaxe handles. Two of the men spoke out and told the media that when they went to lay charges at the local police station, they were allegedly told that Mabuza had issued instructions that complaints from Marite Township be rejected.
Premier Mabuza and his handler, Jacob Zuma, have shown that they do not espouse the values set out by the late ANC President Nelson Mandela and other prominent leaders in the ruling party.
It is unacceptable that the people of Bushbuckridge are paying with their lives on Mabuza’s quest to occupy a senior position within the ANC. Mabuza wants to silence the residents of Bushbuckridge to not be heard regarding their frustrations with government’s failures under his leadership. Some protesters were allegedly paid to stop the protest action.
The ANC has continued to lose votes in Bushbuckridge as disgruntled members broke away to form the Bushbuckridge Resident’s Association (BRA). Mabuza is desperately trying to lure them back into the party.
The DA does not condone the burning of schools nor violent protest action, however, people have the right to protest and must be given the space to do so.
We cannot be held ransom by Mabuza and his ruffians. The DA encourages residents to not be deterred by the ANC’s intimidation and to report these incidents; so that the law can deal with these thugs.
The DA will stand with residents of Bushbuckridge and ensure that their service delivery complaints are addressed and not suppressed by Mabuza and his proxies.
Media Enquiries
James Masango MPL
DA Leader in Mpumalanga
082 891 0717
Portia Adams
DA Mpumalanga Communications Manager
082 319 6666