‘ANC are instigating violent G

Protesters demanding electricity and water throw tear gas cannisters back at the police

‘ANC are instigating violent Gauteng protests because they lost the metros’ – DA

It’s alleged that ANC factions are encouraging violent protests in DA-led areas

‘ANC are instigating violent G

Protesters demanding electricity and water throw tear gas cannisters back at the police

The DA leader in Gauteng has accused the ANC of encouraging riots in the area ‘because they have lost the election’.

Since May, the region has seen a sharp rise in the amount of protests it must deal with and many of them have involved at least one aspect of violence.

Protesters fought running battles with police in Tshwane yesterday – as they did last week – and the John Moodey has pinned the blame squarely on sour grapes:

“It’s time the ANC accepts they have lost the election. The people have rejected the ANC and it’s time for them to let the DA get on with the business of change. The ANC have mobilised in Soshanguve and assaulted community members who wanted to hear the DA’s message of change”.

Read: May 2017 had the highest number of violent protests since 2004

The protesters are enraged by poor service deliveries to the area and feel that the DA isn’t doing enough to address their concerns.

Andre Duvenhage is a political analyst and has been studying the rise of demonstrations in the North East for the last couple of months. He has confirmed that there is certainly an ANC-influence over the disorder:

“There is an anti-system in the ANC that is fighting, because it is no longer controlling certain big metros and, through protests, they are resorting to a struggle strategy, while the DA is busy taking drastic steps in fighting corruption,” said Duvenhage.

“While there is currently a lot of instability in the economy and society, there are also people who are positioning themselves ahead of the ANC’s elective conference in December.”

In the last week, police have been mobilised to a different protest between 1-3 times a day, 90% of which had elements of violence (According to Municipal HQ).

Crime intelligence cannot confirm who is coordinating the uprisings, despite spreading suspicions. Some demonstrations are lasting for days, and the region remains on high alert.