Madam Deputy Speaker, section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, says the following with regard to protest:
Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions.
This is a right enshrined in our Constitution and many South African patriots laid down their lives in order for all of us to be able to enjoy it. However, the recent developments regarding protests that have taken place in our country are in direct contravention of this noble section of our Constitution.
The ANC upholds the right of every citizen to protest for whatever reason. However, this right cannot be exercised at the expense of law-abiding citizens who have an equal right to safety. The ANC welcomes the decision taken by our government on Wednesday, 26 August 2009.
The Cabinet pronounced that law-enforcement agencies will not hesitate to take strong actions against those taxi operators who have threatened to disrupt with acts of violence the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system. It further said that threats of violence and actual violent conduct are viewed in a serious light and will not be tolerated.
The ANC calls on all our people to condemn in the strongest possible terms any unruly element which seeks to exploit the genuine concerns of our people to meet their own selfish ends. I thank you.