​This act of destruction was the second round of protest action at the Macassar Municipal Office in the last six months. The first incident occurred on 30 April 2018.

The group of militants accosted the security guards and forced their way onto the premises, doused tyres with petrol and set them alight inside the building. During the previous protest action, part of the building was damaged. Sadly, the section of the building that was spared the last time suffered extensive damage yesterday rendering the facility unusable.

According to the very shaken security guards, the men were looking for the local ward councillor.

‘This wanton destruction of City facilities has become the norm and we once again condemn the attack in the strongest possible terms. The Macassar municipal office provides a vital service, especially to the most vulnerable residents who will now have to make their way to other City facilities for assistance, incurring unnecessary expenses in the process. No one benefits from such destruction. It could well be family and friends of the very same men who are now being placed at a bigger disadvantage due to the malicious intent and behaviour of the group. We are thankful that the security guards were unharmed although they were visibly shaken by the ordeal,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Assets and Facilities Management, Councillor Stuart Diamond.
 
Intelligence on the ground suggests that the protest action was related to housing opportunities for informal dwellers.

‘We urge the community to speak out if they know who is behind this destruction of the facility. Residents can report the criminals anonymously to their local police station or law enforcement office,’ added Councillor Diamond.

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