The DA notes the release of a comprehensive report by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) into the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The report comes some two-and-a-half years after unprecedented violence hit the province, in a bloody week that saw attacks on lives and livelihoods.
The SAHRC findings vindicate the DA’s view on the motives behind the failed insurrection. This includes a culmination of factors such as social inequality, ongoing political tensions and a severe lack of SAPS intelligence. Ultimately, these factors culminated in a perfect storm.
According to the report, in January 2021, SAPS intelligence received a red alert about the possibility of KZN being shut down by a criminal element in order to remove President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This is a clear sign that ANC internal politics had a big role to play – a scourge still felt in our province today as party political interests take preference over the people.
The DA will conduct an in-depth study of the report. Where the SAHRC has identified failings within ANC national and provincial government structures, we will continue to expose them.
The DA remains committed to establishing a strong, capable and ethical government. KZN’s people must never again face what they had to in July 2021. When they go to the polls this year, they will have the opportunity to rescue our province from an ANC government.