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Eastern Cape Premier, Noxolo Kiviet, wrapped up a two-day Outreach Programme to Nelson Mandela Bay with a stern message to those involved in violent service delivery protests.
Addressing the media ahead of a public engagement at Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton on Friday, premier Kiviet said violent service delivery protests will hurt investments into the Metro.
"I do want to warn the people of Nelson Mandela Metro that if they continue with that kind of attitude they are negating the kind of work we do, negotiating and convincing investors to come to this part of the country for their sake," she said.
"Now, if they continue to behave in the reckless manner (that) they are behaving they will get houses but remain unemployed. And, they must think and they must reason."
"It is not because people demanded houses that government committed to (providing) houses, it is because government committed to build houses for the people, committed to improve sanitation for the people and all we wanted from the people was their understanding and their commitment to work with us," said added.
The premier said it "therefore can't be right that people must first destroy that which is there because they want that which is not there. And, therefore we really need to make sense to (sic) those people that protests are a deterent to development."
The premier said she has assigned an inter-ministerial task team led by Local Government MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, "to intervene and help resolve service delivery-related protests particularly in Walmer.
"We are communicating with the leadership of the people of Walmer and expect to be given space to address the issues they are concerned with," she said.
Meanwhile, in an overview of the two-day Outreach Programme to the Cacadu District Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay, the premier said although there is noticeable good progress in many areas.
However, she said massive challenges still remain "which clearly demonstrates that there is still a long way to go to reach the promised land for which our fellow citizens and fore-bearers sacrificed dearly to realise."
