1. MEC, you are fairly new in this department but have come at a time of violence that has taken to the streets and now arterial routes. I appreciate your report on the torching of trucks in your speech but more has to be done to reassure road commuters and the business community.
2. The protocol or rules for public order policing is clear of when to use force.
3. What has happened to the provisions of our Constitution on protests, being the right of groups or individuals but in a peaceful manner?
4. Police need to use force when attempts to negotiate have failed and there is “reasonable ground”, to believe that damage to people or property cannot be averted through other actions.
5. The traffic police needs co-ordination with SAPS to handle taxi or protestor violence.
6. The damages causes’ loss of lives, livelihoods, businesses are at risk to close or relocate.
7. As much as poverty, unemployment and inequality are huge and as a government, so much is done to socially protect our people but the losses on roads due to violence perpetuates poverty by having a direct cost to loss of productivity.
8. Violent protests are a lose lose situation, HON.Members.
9. It endangers road users, affects workers reaching workplaces; loss of productivity will only hurt our economy, HON. MEC. This must do in conjunction with all the labour efforts already undertaken.
10. MEC, we have to tighten by-laws and road rules to keep our roads safe or we will cripple our Province economically.
11. With these words the Minority Front supports this budget.
12. Thank you

HON.S. Thakur- Rajbansi