Mr Speaker, it is deeply troubling that today's ANC Youth League protest outside Luthuli House in Johannesburg broke into acts of violence against journalists and police officers. A South African Press Association, Sapa, photographer and two eNews journalists were pelted with missiles. The burning of placards was the prelude to the damaging of property. This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable.
Business owners around Luthuli House had to close their doors, fearing for their safety and that of their employees. For these businesses it has been an entire day of lost income. There is absolutely no reason why the ANC Youth League members could not have conducted a peaceful vigil. These reckless actions, those of rogue ANC Youth League members, have placed the lives of everyone present in danger. The atmosphere is tense and politically charged. All of this creates a very volatile situation. We do not want to see conflict between the police and the youth on Johannesburg streets or any other street in South Africa.
The internal battles of the ANC Youth League must not be externalised and go onto the streets of South Africa, diverting precious police resources away from crime control in other places. We call on the ANC Youth League to control their members and to maintain a peaceful presence. In addition, the police must arrest those people who have damaged property. Thank you. [Applause.]