Jozi@Work protesters to face criminal rap over City of Johannesburg council demonstration

23 February 2017 - 17:01 By TMG Digital
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"Hundreds" of Jozi@Work programme employees together with Jozi Bread owners and mushroom farmers staged a protest outside the City of Johannesburg Council chamber today‚ according to the city's ANC branch.

The protest was confirmed by City Mayor Herman Mashaba‚ who said he planned to lay charges for the damage they incurred. "Those responsible for the violence and damage to City property today must be held accountable and I will be laying criminal charges."

The ANC Joburg Region @ANCJHB claimed Mashaba had refused to meet the protesters‚ and stated: "The march today is not the last march but a series of more marches to come if Mashaba continues with the arrogance that he displays".

  • ANC behind violence during Joburg Council meeting: MashabaCity of Johannesburg executive mayor Herman Mashaba has accused the ANC of being behind violence that erupted during a city council meeting and damage to City property on Thursday. 

However‚ the former ruling party in the Metro said‚ "We are disturbed by the fact that there has been damage to Council property by some elements within the marchers. We call upon the leadership of the affected workers to instill discipline among their members and to desist from destructive behaviour".

Mayor Mashaba accused the party of instigating the protest.

"The protest was clearly organised by the ANC in a bid to derail Council proceedings. The blame must be put squarely at the feet of the ANC.

"The Johannesburg Social Movement’s frontman‚ Tshepang Mokgatla‚ was the ANC’s councillor candidate for the recent elections in ward 125. He lost that ward to the DA and is now dedicating his time to destabilising this administration."

Mashaba announced earlier this month that the Jozi@work programme had been cancelled‚ saying that the programme favoured members of ANC branches above any unemployed resident of Johannesburg.

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