S. African gov't calls for calm in North West province protests

JOHANNESBURG, April 26 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster on Thursday criticized the renewed violence in the country's North West province where people are destroying property and looting shops.

This comes after the violent protests which started last week on Wednesday and temporarily stopped on Friday resume again.

JCPS Cluster spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said law enforcement agents have been deployed to affected communities to ensure the violent protests come to an end.

"The Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster is dismayed by the renewed violence and criminality accompanying public protests in different parts of the North West Province. It is incorrect and unacceptable that people should turn to violence, loot shops and destroy property in the name of their demands.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the rise in looting and destruction of property as well as all forms of violence. Such lawlessness will not be allowed to continue anywhere in the country, " said Dlamini.

The JCPS cluster comprises of various government departments, including Home Affairs, Police, State Security, Justice and Correctional Services, among others.

The protests have spread to the neighboring areas where shops are being looted and infrastructure being damaged.

Dlamini said they will continue to monitor and beef up the law enforcement agents in the affected areas.

"The JCPS cluster urges all individuals involved in the violence to immediately to desist from the use of violence as an avenue for airing their grievances. We further call on communities to raise grievances within the bounds of the law. Those who decide to exercise their constitutional right to protest are advised to do so in a peaceful and orderly manner," he said.

The police also revealed that they have arrested over 100 people between the ages of 18 and 60 for crimes related to violent protests. Enditem