Premier Oscar Mabuyane has spoken out strongly against the attacks on tourists and people working on different projects to develop communities along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast.
The premier was speaking during the provincial heritage celebrations at the amaXhosa’s Nqandu Great Place in Willowvale.
“This should be stopped. We must ensure those investing in and touring the Wild Coast are protected.
“Traditional leaders must stand up and be vigilant.”
Mabuyane stressed this included protecting white people who invested in developing the area and tourists who brought much-needed jobs and income.
“This crime must be stopped. We cannot afford to lose them and the contribution they make for our people,” the premier said.
He said there had been an increase in hijackings, kidnappings, assaults, and robberies.
Elliotdale community developer Dave Martin and his wife Réjane Woodroffe, who co-founded NGO Bulungula Incubator, were recently attacked by four armed robbers at their home at Nqileni village in Xhorha Mouth near Elliotdale.
The community along the pristine coastline has since set up a network of neighbourhood watch groups, each comprising about 20 men from local villages tasked with patrolling the area during the day and at night.
The first forum was established the day after the couple were attacked.
Tourist Alize van der Merwe, from Cape Town, is believed to have been kidnapped while travelling to the Umngazi resort in Port St Johns on Friday.
“While celebrating our achievements, we must confront the challenges that still affect our society.
“Racial discrimination, sexism, and hate speech have no place in the Eastern Cape we are building.
“We must work together to eliminate these threats ... Every citizen of the Eastern Cape, no matter their background or identity, deserves to live free from prejudice and hatred,” Mabuyane said.
He said Heritage Month was a chance for the province and SA to renew its commitment to upholding human rights, promoting gender equality, and affirming the dignity of all people.
“Let us work together to rid our province of crime and all other social ills. We must stop the problem of crime in the Wild Coast,” he said.
He said the Eastern Cape was the country’s only province where nine wars of resistance were fought against colonialists.
“All these historic events claimed the lives of many sons and daughters of this province whom we rightfully call our heroes and heroines today,” he said.
He said since 2019, “working with our communities the government has unapologetically made 103 geographical name changes in the Eastern Cape”.
“We are now going to change the name of East London and many other streets.”
He said the provincial government, working with Sanral, was investing more than R50bn in building roads in the next five years.
“We are now busy building three hospitals in rural areas,” Mabuyane said.
He urged citizens to embrace the nation’s diversity as a unifying tool.
“Our differences — whether in race, language, gender, or orientation — should not divide us but strengthen us,” he said.
“Social cohesion is the foundation of a prosperous and peaceful society, where mutual respect and understanding rise above our differences.”
Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders chair Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso said: “This year’s Heritage Day celebrations are more significant because we are celebrating our 30th anniversary as a nation free of apartheid.
“Traditional leadership is particularly thrilled to be part of these celebrations because almost 300 years ago, traditional leaders were involved in the wars of land dispossession against the colonists.”
He said the country was also commemorating 189 years since the death of amaXhosa King Hintsa kaKhawuta who was killed in May 1835.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.