protests

Malawian activists who organised the July 20 deadly protests say there will be more demonstrations unless President Bingu wa Mutharika addresses their grievances.

Protest organiser, Rafiq Hajat, says that Mutharika has until 16 August to resolve persistent fuel and foreign exchange shortages, adding that if not, the protests will begin the next day.

Mutharika has since reshuffled the country's military leadership following anti-government protests in three major cities. At least 19 people were killed in Malawi during demonstrations against the government.

Malawi President, Bingu wa Mutharika, has lashed out at anti-government demonstrators, as two days of protests have left at least 10 people dead in unprecedented levels of unrest in that country.

The President has vowed to "ensure peace using any measure I can think of" as protesters gathered for a second day in the impoverished state roiled by fuel shortages and price hikes.

Hospital officials and activists say the victims have been shot with live ammunition, and that at least 44 others in the northern city of Mzuzu alone were being treated for gunshot wounds.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) young adults who have just entered the job market will suffer from the recent wave of strikes.

The NYDA fears that strikes over salary increase in the engineering, metal and fuel sectors may lead to job losses in the near future.

NYDA's Stieneke Samuel, who argues that young people are the core for the economy, states that businesses are currently counting their losses.

Samuel explains that revenue losses translate into job losses, adding that when job losses come, they start with the young people.

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) says that there is a strong case for slain protester Andries Tatane's family to sue the state for compensation.
 
CASAC spokesperson, Lawson Naidoo, says the organisation will meet Tatane's family over the next two weeks to explore the options open to them.
 
The family's civil law suit was expected to be directed against Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, or National Commissioner, Bheki Cele.
 

Former Cabinet minister, Jay Naidoo, says that politicians and not the police should be sent to defuse service delivery protests.
 
Speaking at Crime Line's fourth anniversary celebrations in Krugersdorp, Naidoo pointed out that, "Politicians must go and speak to the people. The protest is a failed delivery issue and political in nature."
 
Naidoo said communities get angry when their situations are not improving and they see politicians living the high life. He adds that communities protest when they suspect fraud or corruption.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has written to the police ministry regarding the recent spate of cases of alleged brutality by police officers.

This letter follows after a number of cases of brutality by police officers have been reported in different parts of the country, including Tatane’s murder during a service delivery protest in the Free State.

Free State Social Development MEC, Sisi Ntombela, says that government is aware that ‘things are not fine’ in Ficksburg.

Speaking at the memorial service of slain protestor, Andries Tatane, Ntombela told mourners that government will step in and help the people of Ficksburg and Meqheleng.

Ntombela denied that the provincial government is only now stepping in at Ficksburg to address the service delivery issues, adding that, "The government has its own programme, which has started in other parts of the province."

The South African Institute for Race Relations (SAIRR) is calling on Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to stop applying double standards in policing and suspend and prosecute the officers who killed a protester in Ficksburg, Free State.

SAIRR argues that the potential implications of the police's action can provoke a ‘political reaction’ (uprising) that the government will never be able to contain.