GAUTENG PREMIER SHILOWA TO END CONFLICT IN FINETOWN

Issued by: Office of the Premier Gauteng Province

30 March 2000

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, accompanied by MECs Trevor Fowler and Nomvula Mokonyane, today visited Finetown in an attempt to end a long conflict between local Sanco and ANC branches.

The Premier briefed a community meeting attended by more than 1 500 people on a report compiled by The Independent Mediation Services of South Africa on causes of the violent conflict which claimed several lives in the area.

The report listed some of the main causes of the conflict as:

• Inter-organisational conflict between the ANC and Sanco.
  
• Apparent inability by the provincial leadership structures of both the ANC and Sanco to instil discipline in their local structures.
  
• Inability by the local SAPS to finalise criminal cases. The local police station is perceived by the community as being both ineffective and in collusion with the perpetrators of atrocities.
  
• Undermining of legitimately elected local government representatives by pressure groups and community organisations.

The report recommended that:

• Both the ANC and Sanco provincial executives should prevail upon their local structures to work towards normalising relations between themselves.
  
• The MEC for safety and Liaison together with the Provincial Commissioner of Police work with the local police station and the community to restore stability and the community's confidence in the police.
  
• Clear lines of communication be established between the local Council and the community.
  
• The Department of Development Planning and Local Government work with the community and the Council to develop Finetown.

The Premier assured the community that the Provincial Government would work with all the people of Finetown to restore peace and stability in the area and attend to the developmental needs of the people. He however warned those implicated in violence and other criminal acts that they would face the full might of the law.

For further information please contact Thabo Masebe at 082 551 4945