Sexwale warns unruly protesters

Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale has warned that the government will take tough action against people who want to render any part of the country ungovernable.

"There are limits to social and political activism," he said on Tuesday. He was referring to violent protests over housing and services, and also to homeowners in towns deciding to withhold paying their rates.

Sexwale said the government was sensitive to the plight of people struggling with poverty.

'There should be zero tolerance for people who want to render any part of this country ungovernable'

"We know about, the recession, about people losing their jobs," he said. But where the government saw anarchy, it had to put a stop to it.

"There should be zero tolerance for people who want to render any part of this country ungovernable," he said.

Sexwale was responding to questions at a briefing after delivering his budget vote in Parliament, where he was asked about protests linked to the government's flagship N2 Gateway housing project in Cape Town, which has been plagued by problems.

He said the government would continue to engage residents, but said: "The message must go out that the government does not allow anarchy, there has to be consistency and stability."

Sexwale said it was necessary for the government to engage, and that it should "not easily be provoked into doing things you regret". But he added: "Where the law's got to roll in, it will do that."

He said the government had to distinguish between organisations and activists acting legitimately and those "acting under other flags".

But Sexwale admitted mistakes had been made with the N2 Gateway that could have been avoided.

- The Star