Members of the PAC chant slogans during the commemoration of the killing of 69 people at Sharpeville black township a half century ago, in Johannesburg
In an interview with Business Day, Political analyst, Professor Stephen Friedman, says government is showing some sensitivity by refusing to take hard action against service delivery protests.
But that could be a double edged sword.
"The problem is not going to go away in the next year - and yes, if not dealt with, then people are going to get more angry" said Friedman.
According to Friedman, the protests are not about Serivce Delivery, but he says they're about "people not being listened to".
He includes the growing anger amongst the middle class in South Africa, where at least 40 towns have now withheld part of their rates and taxes as infrastructure collapses.
Friedman says both the poor and the Middle Class have one thing in common, and that's being ignored by government.
But he says when it comes to local issues, the middle Class and poor have conflicting interests.
The poor would want cash to be donated to support their cause, while the middle class is regarded by government as the country's cash cow as taxes are hiked linked to land rates, power, city taxes, and a slew of related increases aimed at the middle Class.
In the last month, more violence has broken out as communities complain that nothing is improving in their local services. The clashes have seen police opening fire with buckshot and hundreds being arrested.
The areas include Soshanguve, Brits, Ogies, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Sebokeng, Soweto, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit, Reiger Park, Daveyton, Ennerdale, Attridgeville, and Ramaphosa informal settlement.
In an interview with Business Day, Political analyst, Professor Stephen Friedman, says government is showing some sensitivity by refusing to take hard action against service delivery protests.
But that could be a double edged sword.
"The problem is not going to go away in the next year - and yes, if not dealt with, then people are going to get more angry" said Friedman.
According to Friedman, the protests are not about Serivce Delivery, but he says they're about "people not being listened to".
He includes the growing anger amongst the middle class in South Africa, where at least 40 towns have now withheld part of their rates and taxes as infrastructure collapses.
Friedman says both the poor and the Middle Class have one thing in common, and that's being ignored by government.
But he says when it comes to local issues, the middle Class and poor have conflicting interests.
The poor would want cash to be donated to support their cause, while the middle class is regarded by government as the country's cash cow as taxes are hiked linked to land rates, power, city taxes, and a slew of related increases aimed at the middle Class.
In the last month, more violence has broken out as communities complain that nothing is improving in their local services. The clashes have seen police opening fire with buckshot and hundreds being arrested.
The areas include Soshanguve, Brits, Ogies, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Sebokeng, Soweto, Mamelodi, Bronkhorstspruit, Reiger Park, Daveyton, Ennerdale, Attridgeville, and Ramaphosa informal settlement.
- Business Day
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