With the Eastern Cape hit almost weekly by protests over service delivery, premier Oscar Mabuyane reflected at the weekend on three decades of democracy, calling for people to be optimistic. Irate residents have taken to the streets across the province over grievances such as a lack of clean drinking water, proper schools and roads, unemployment, electricity, crime and corruption.
Traditional leaders in the Eastern Cape have called for government to heed the “complex issues” raised by aggrieved citizens during this election period. The province has recently been hit with protests over service delivery issues including access to clean drinking water, proper roads and electricity among other grievances.
Traditional leaders have demanded a special police investigation into allegations that assaults and torture of initiates in Matatiele, Mount Fletcher and Lady Grey in the Joe Gqabi district are being hidden.
Murder and assaults of traditional nurses and caregivers at male initiation schools have sparked concern from Eastern Cape authorities who fear people may refuse to step in to look after initiates unless they are provided with bodyguards.