South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday warned his government will not tolerate "anarchy" during protests, after recent violence over soldiers' pay and a new public transport system. Two people were shot this week as Johannesburg rolled out a new bus system ahead of the 2010 football World Cup, while last week more than 1,200 soldiers tried to scale the fence around Zuma's offices and torched cars outside.
"Lawlessness and anarchy will not be tolerated from any segment of our society, regardless of the grievances," Zuma said in his weekly letter to the nation. Zuma called the clash between soldiers and police "unfortunate", while calling the bus shooting "totally unacceptable". "This cannot be how we wish to solve problems," he said.
"This cannot be how we wish to voice our displeasure at anything that government is doing, especially since we emphasise that we want to build an accessible, responsive and interactive government," Zuma said. "It just cannot be that a public transport system aimed at improving the lives of our people has to be guarded because some of our compatriots are unhappy about it and want to take out their anger on commuters," he added.
The soldiers' protest over wages sparked a national debate about discipline within the ranks of a force whose members earn as little as 2,250 rand (290 dollars, 200 euros) a month, half of entry-level teachers. The transport shooting highlighted tensions between the government and the private minibus taxi industry, which currently dominates commuter routes. Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele told reporters Friday that the government would step up efforts to negotiate with the taxis to incorporate them into the new system in time for the World Cup.
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