President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted, with serious concern, reports of protest and clashes between protesters and police in the North-West Province.

President Ramaphosa has called for calm and adherence to the rule of law in the province and has called on all aggrieved parties to express their grievances through peaceful means and engagement rather than violence and anarchy.

The President has also called on law-enforcement agencies to exercise maximum restraint in execution of their duties to return calm and normality to the province.

To pay attention to the situation in the North West, the President has decided to cut short his participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London where he is leading a government delegation.

The President will return to Pretoria today, Thursday, 19 April 2018.

 

Issued by the Presidency