afrol News, 23 July - The government of South Africa has come under pressure with violent service delivery protests spreading across the country.

However, government has condemned the violence appealing to communities to use all other means with the parameters of the law.

Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sicelo Shiceka said today that violent demonstrations were unacceptable. "We cannot allow anybody to use illegal means to achieve their objectives. Anything that is done must be done within the law and constitution,” he warned.

Police have had to come in with rubber bullets and tear gas in numerous protests in the past weeks, where community members staged demonstrations against local authorities against what they called lack of services and commitment to the needs of the people.

In a recent protest, a major road was closed while passing vehicles were pelted with stones, while in another town of the country, demonstrators are alleged to have resorted to looting shops as part of calling for government’s attention.

Mr Shiceka has however conceded that the disenchantment felt by communities could be attributed to them waiting for services for 15 years, since South Africa went back to democracy.

Several people have been arrested around South Africa from different incidences of violent protests in just less than three months since the new government headed by Jacob Zuma was installed.

The country has also been recently hit by a spate of labour strikes in both the public and private sectors, with workers demanding bettered wages.

South Africa is the economic hub of the Southern African region and a major player in the continent.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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