SAPS Commissioner applauds member for engaging angry protestors in Damonsville

BRITS – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng was informed early Wednesday morning that the community of Damonsville, in the Madibeng Local Municipality District had barricaded all entry and exit roads with barricades.

According to the District Commissioner for Bojanala Sub-District 1, the community anger emanated from the apparent failure by the municipality to address the intermittent power failures in Damonsville. After being notified and based on previous similar protests, Major General Asaneng instructed that members of Public Order Police (POP) be mobilised to maintain public order in the area.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner previously warned and advised communities not to resort to violent, disruptive and unlawful actions such as barricading of roads, damaging of critical public infrastructure, private properties no matter how legitimate their concerns or frustrations about non-delivery of basic services are as doing so is tantamount to commission of crime, and that the police will not negotiate or tolerate anarchy and lawlessness.

It is with a great sense of appreciation to note that the situation in Damonsville was resolved quickly and that normalcy returned to the area. The Acting Provincial Commissioner wants to express his gratitude to Lt Col Bodiba of the District for his bravery, leadership and courage in ensuring that the situation was resolved without any intervention by the POP.

The member courageously engaged an angry, frustrated group of community members and requested them to remove the barricades and that they nominate leaders who will go and engage the municipality about their concerns, a proposal they were open to and which led to the peaceful resolution of the impasse. This also confirms why the law enforcement agencies persistently request members of the community to do rather than resorting to violence.