Anarchy won’t be tolerated and those involved will face the full might of the law, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has warned.
In a statement on Monday afternoon Mabuyane confirmed he had asked president Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the SA National Defence Force to assist in curbing the disruption and blockading of main roads and the looting of trucks in the province.
He roundly condemned the disruption and vandalism on the N2 and R61 national roads blockaded by disgruntled taxi operators.
“We have mobilised law enforcement agencies to intervene with full might so as to control the situation in Mthatha,” Mabuyane said.
“I want to thank the police for acting swiftly on those who wanted to disrupt operations in the Mthatha Airport.
“He said government had opened lines for engagement with all parties in a bid to find an amicable solution to the problem.
“We call on those causing these disruptions to refrain from such immediately.”
Meanwhile, the blocked roads are also preventing patients in desperate need of high level care from accessing hospitals in Mthatha.
Health spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase said ambulances from outlying areas could not reach the main hospitals.
Most hospitals were in any event forced to function with skeleton staff as staff who were meant to be on duty could not get past the blockades.”
Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional and St Barnabas Hospital staff who worked the night shift could not go home while those who were supposed to report for duty could not get to work because of the blocked roads. This has forced hospitals to operate with skeleton staff.
“He said in extreme emergencies the department would use aeromedical services to transfer patients.”
DispatchLIVE
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