Church leaders call for calm in Mahikeng
Church leaders have called for calm in the Mahikeng protests‚ which have disrupted public services and damaged property.
On Friday‚ the Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship (MMF) appealed to communities to “isolate the criminal element responsible for looting as well as destruction of private (and) public properties in Mahikeng‚ including other parts of the North West province”.
“We are confident that the intervention by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the leadership of the ruling party will assist to resolve the crisis and address pertinent issues that have been raised by protesters… We pray that he will receive the necessary cooperation to address service delivery challenges and appoint a neutral and competent authority to speedily get to the bottom of corruption allegations that have been levelled against provincial authorities‚” said Pastor Moss Tlalang‚ chairperson of MMF‚ an interdenominational fellowship of church leaders.
Violent protests in Mahikeng intensified this week as residents revolted against Premier Supra Mahumapelo. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit the area on Friday.
The protests have had a devastating effect on the provision of health in Mahikeng. Many clinics have been forced to close and people have been directed to the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital‚ which is now overcrowded.
Tlalang commended Ramaphosa for leaving his commitments in London to intervene back home.