STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL
14 July 2021
CONTINUED ACTS OF VIOLENCE IS SABOTAGE OF BASIC SERVICES, ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE & OUR ECONOMY
NPA MUST CONSIDER THE 2015 CRIMINAL MATTERS AMENDMENT ACT AS THEY PROCEED TO DEAL WITH THOSE ARRESTED
Many South Africans Act in Solidarity against current violence and looting:
South Africa, in particular parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, woke up to continued violence, destruction, arson and looting.
It is alleged that last night attempts were made to sabotage and destroy the Afrox facility in Durban which is South Africa’s sole supplier of oxygen – a critical resource for the treatment of those hospitalised for Covid-19. Fortunately the arson attempt was contained and the oxygen supply is not currently at risk.
Many South Africans have acted in solidarity with each other and with our policing to protect businesses, malls and facilities in their communities. We salute the patriots who are resisting this violence and the destabilisation of the state.
Those who have reacted quickly to protect infrastructure include the mini-bus taxi industry, and we thank them for their loud condemnation of the violence and their action.
The tragic and unprecedented events of the last few days have resulted in 72 people losing their lives.
More than 200 malls have been looted. And sadly, small businesses, micro traders and professional practices, like doctors’ offices, have been destroyed. Many people will never recover their livelihoods and those arrested should not escape lightly for destroying the lives and livelihoods of decent and hardworking people.
We welcome the announcement that 1234 people have already been arrested.
Criminal Matters Amendment Act must be tested:
The Criminal Matters Amendment Act was enacted in 2015 but has seldom been used by the National Prosecuting Authority.
The Act was intended to deter the destruction of essential infrastructure that we rely on for basic services. The Act recognises that essential infrastructure is increasingly destroyed by organised criminal acts and that these offences have a negative impact on “South Africa’s economy and society and on peace and stability in the country”.
The extent to which the current criminality has been coordinated and orchestrated is under investigation. The media is reporting that a former State Security Agency official is under investigation for his role in instigating this violence and that at least 10 other people are under investigation for inciting or instigating this violence to destabilise the state.
Regardless of whether those who have been arrested were acting out of this alleged incitement or were opportunistic they have aligned themselves to crimes that have attacked the stability of our food supply, and our essential health infrastructure.
The National Prosecuting Authority is urged to consider whether those who are alleged to have attacked transport infrastructure, factories, medical practises and facilities like Afrox must be investigated and prosecuted under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act.
This Act provides for much harsher sentencing, up to 30 years in prison, for those convicted.
Politicians and political parties should not interfere in the work of the National Prosecuting Authority. Prosecutions must be independent of political interference. But, South Africans need to see the justice system move swiftly and without fear or favour and we call on the National Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that our confidence in the criminal justice system is not also destroyed by these events.