What is the real purpose behind the ANC's proposal to establish street committees?

What is the real purpose behind the ANC's proposal to establish street committees?

Whatever the purpose, it is dangerous and opportunistic. It is a recipe for political conflict, especially since election campaigns are about to commence. The committees will in time become community-political vigilantes.

Jacob Zuma says they are intended to deter crime. Gwede Mantashe adds another, but perplexing reason: they must inform councillors where service delivery is needed. One would think that councillors already know what taxpayers are paying them for.

Street committees will pose, like a posse that became an outlaw, a serious danger to communities because they will spawn conflict with other parties.

The Alliance of Free Democrats has met political hooligans who pretended to be gate-keepers of their communities. ANC hooliganism has been amply documented in the media this year. ANC thugs in Diepsloot, Olievenhoutbosch, Burgersfort, Lulekane bluntly told us that those were "ANC areas". Some even threatened to burn down the homes of our agents. Only a determined refusal to yield to their intimidation deflected violence.

Provocative structures should not be encouraged.

Themba Sono, AFD president

(This letter has been shortened.)