Hon Deputy Speaker, the AIC has identified the high rate of crime and the lack of meaningful public participation in our democracy as the major causes of social unrest in our societies. Each day a child is raped, a man is robbed or killed and the use of drugs is becoming worse in most parts of this country.
We think the visibility of the SA Police Service in all corners of the country can help minimise this problem. Our communities usually protest peacefully and write petitions as a way of engaging the government in the challenges they face every day and it is their democratic right to do so. It is the manner in which these are handled by our government that compels them to act in a violent manner.
The AIC urges all the spheres of government to respect the poor communities and listen to their views while also attending to the challenges raised by these poor communities. I thank you. [Applause.]