Eastern Cape Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Ntombovuyo Nkopane, has picked up where his predecessor, Babalo Madikizela, left off in the fight against hijacking, looting and vandalism of public infrastructure in the province.
Nkopane held a meeting with various stakeholders at the Mthatha Stadium, on December 1, to officially launch her campaign.
Mthatha has been described as the epicentre in the vandalism and hijacking of state property
“We feel that the fight against the scourge of hijacking, looting and vandalism of public infrastructure cannot be fought and won by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure alone.
“We are, therefore, launching a campaign to encourage citizens and all role-players to take pride in state property and stand against vandalism,” said Nkopane.
The department said that the crucial part of the campaign is to actively seek to include the communities, as they are indirect owners of the infrastructure provided by government.
Department of Community Safety regional director, Fikile Hintsa, in his message of support during the meeting, said that the issue of hijacking of government buildings in Mthatha was serious and the culprits were generating millions from their illegal activities.
“These people who are involved in hijackings of state buildings are going to great lengths to sustain their self-enrichment, including murder of those who oppose them, and some government officials are conniving and participating in the crime, including members of the South African Police Service,” Hintsa cautioned.
King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Nyaniso Nelani, said that the issue of vandalism and illegal invasion of state properties in Mthatha needed urgent attention, as it contributed to a spike in crime.
“The campaign being launched today speaks to us directly, as the municipality, as we are grappling with rampant hijacking of buildings in the city centre that are used for all kinds of illegal activities, including selling of drugs and human trafficking,” Nelani said.
The business fraternity and ratepayers’ association have both called for a property development summit for the OR Tambo District to robustly discuss the issue of vandalism, looting and hijacking of state assets.
The meeting has unanimously agreed that decisive action be taken towards ensuring that all state-owned property are brought back to the control of the state and illegal invaders are evicted and prosecuted.
