Law Society calls for respect and dignity during service delivery protests

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) has viewed the criminal violence that has occurred during and after the recent service delivery protests in Galeshewe, Kimberley and Khayelitsha, Cape Town with extremely grave concern. Similar protests have occurred in other places around South Africa.

‘The LSSA supports the rights of citizens and inhabitants of South Africa to protest peacefully. We also recognise that the majority of service delivery protests are, in fact, not violent. However, the LSSA considers the random looting of shops and the burning of public and private buildings a grave injustice to all people, and a serious breach of the rule of law,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Mvuzo Notyesi and Ettienne Barnard.

They add: ‘The LSSA urges all people to protest peacefully and with dignity; that includes respect for the rule of law and respect for others’ lives and property, and not to take the law into their own hands. In addition, the LSSA calls on Government to take urgent steps to ensure that citizens and their property are properly protected during protest action.’

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, MVUZO NOTYESI AND ETTIENNE BARNARD
Contact:
Ros Elphick – ros@LSSA.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800 or 083 655 7163
Mapula Sedutla – mapula@derebus.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800

Editor’s note:

The Law Society of South Africa brings together its six constituent members – the Cape Law Society, the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society, the Law Society of the Free State, the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, the Black Lawyers Association and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers – in representing South Africa’s 25 200 attorneys and 5 700 candidate attorneys.