One of the touched EMS cars
By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, has called for calm after one of the Emergency Medical Services(EMS) vehicles, belonging to her Department, was reportedly torched during a service delivery protest on the R40 Road, near Casteel in Bushbuckridge, on Monday 22 April.
According to a report by Mpumalanga Department of Health, the vehicle was on its way to another health facility when the driver came across the protesters on the R40 Road. The driver was reportedly taken out of the vehicle, but was not harmed. The protesters allegedly went ahead and burned the vehicle.
In condemning the act, MEC Manzini said that the destruction of public property is not the right way to raise concerns.
“ The community has a right to raise concerns if they are not satisfied with the service delivery they are provided with. There are many platforms available and proper channels that must be used and followed to raise concerns. Government has placed Councillors, Mayors and many community representatives to ensure that if there are concerns, they can be engaged,” said Manzini.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison(DCSSL), Vusi Shongwe, also condemned the violent protest. He said that Mpumalanga residents must protest within the ambit of the law and raise their grievances in a manner that is not violent or infringe upon the rights of others.
“ We condemn in the strongest terms the closure of routes particularly R40, because it is a route between the province(Mpumalanga) and Limpopo. Businesses are severely affected by this trend of constant road closure which also affects the livelihoods of many. People must refrain from destroying public and private properties regardless of how angry they are,” said Shongwe.
Shongwe furthermore stated that the police have spent a considerable amount of time responding to needless road closures, especially in and around Bushbuckridge. He urged residents to report any criminals who use genuine community concerns to destroy private and state properties as well as infrastructure.
The Department of Health said that a case has been opened with the police and investigations are underway.
