Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Weziwe Tikana, has called on the people of the Eastern Cape to set the example for how everyone can work and live peacefully.
She was commenting after residents of Cala attacked the shops of foreign nationals on Friday, following the arrest of a Zimabwean national for the murder of a young local woman.
Residents became infuriated following the discovery of the body parts of 23-year-old Zandidile Dudumashe, who was in a relationship with the 28-year-old suspect.
Tikana said the police must be allowed to complete their investigation and bring the suspect to court for him to stand trial.
"No one has the right to take the law into their own hands no matter how emotional we become and how much we seek retribution," she said.
MEC Tikana also expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the victim. and "requested the community of Cala to rally around her family, support them during this time of mourning. Revenge and lawlessness will not honour her memory or help her family to heal."
The MEC also requested the communities of the Eastern Cape to condemn the spate of violence taking place elsewhere in the country and called "for the Province to set an example of how everyone can work and live peacefully together in our country, when we respect each other and obey the law."
She further called on community leaders, business, labour and civil society structures to encourage and educate people on the need for peaceful co-existence with all who live in our communities.
The Deputy Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Maj Gen Zamuthonga Mki has called for calm and appealed to the community of Cala not to become criminals themselves by taking the law into their own hands but instead, to trust law enforcement officers to do their work.
"Everyone working and living in the Eastern Cape must be treated with the necessary dignity and respect. The SAPS will do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all citizens and foreign nationals. Lawlessness and criminality will not be tolerated and the Police in the Province are on a high alert to deal swiftly and effectively, with instances of this nature," he said.
