Ministers condemn Cape Town looting

Parliament - Two Cabinet ministers on Thursday condemned the looting during a violent service delivery protest in central Cape Town.

“I want to join (with those) who condemn the behaviour of the thugs who looted shops and especially the stalls of informal traders in... Cape Town yesterday,” Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel told MPs in the National Assembly.

Responding to earlier opposition party statements on the matter, he said nobody could support such behaviour, and he called on all parliamentarians to speak out against it.

State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele denied the protest was organised by the African National Congress.

“As the ANC government, we condemn violence during service delivery protests. (Also, I want to) state categorically, that the protest was not organised by the ANC.”

Those taking part were from Cape Town's neglected and “suffering communities”.

“Our analysis... informs us that most of these protests start peacefully, but they soon degenerate to violence... if complaints are ignored,” he said.

Shop windows were smashed, cars damaged and stall owners robbed when a group broke away from the main body of protesters, gathered outside the provincial legislature building on Wednesday afternoon, and went on the rampage through central Cape Town.

- Sapa