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S. African leader Zuma vows to take concrete steps against violent protests

Xinhua, December 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma vowed on Wednesday to take concrete steps to turn the tide against violent protests and the destruction of property.

"The critical step that we need to take is not so much to commission more studies because there is already some research that has been undertaken," Zuma said in a reply to a parliamentary question about whether he intends to initiate a scientific investigation to ascertain why South Africans are prone to arson, vandalism and violence when they participate in protest action.

The widespread incidents of violence and destruction of property during protests is a cause for major concern, said Zuma.

The violence in the society is inherited from the violence perpetrated during the apartheid system and the violence response it engendered, Zuma said.

"There are studies that have been undertaken to understand factors that contribute to a culture of violence in our society. Some of the studies have been undertaken by organisations outside government," Zuma said.

He said the government will take various important initiatives to address the matter next year.

These include educating society about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This education campaign is important considering that next year will be the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the Republic by former President Nelson Mandela, Zuma said.

Next year will also be the 40th anniversary of 16 June 1976 student uprisings and the 60th anniversary of the Women's March to the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The 1976 student uprisings and the Women's March were two important events in the struggle against apartheid.

Studies show that violence in the society affects mostly women and children, therefore the government will use the year 2016 to mobilise society against violence that is committed against women and children, Zuma said.

South Africa is constantly haunted by violent protests, mainly caused by poor service delivery, which take place, on average, twice a week. Endit