Eric Naki
Eric Naki
Pressure is mounting on the ANC and the government to do something about the crisis in Khutsong.
The latest voices came from the ANC caucus in the West Rand district municipality and the Pan-Africanist Youth Congress (Payco) urging the the ANC-led alliance and President Thabo Mbeki to end the violence.
ANC chief whip in the municipality, Refentse Mangope called on the leaders of the ANC, SACP, Cosatu and Sanco to immediately convene a mass community rally to give political direction so that schooling could resume in Khutsong.
Mangope said criminals had now occupied the centre stage in the "uncontrollable" situation.
In a letter to Mbeki, Payco secretary-general Linda Ndebele said the situation was a national crisis and required the president's intervention.
"We believe it is high time the question of provinces is given special attention to address these concerns permanently. South Africa is a unitary state and not a federal one. Payco supports the call of the majority in Khutsong and would like to see the matter addressed," Ndebele said.