Fuming Diepsloot residents have asked President Cyril Ramaphosa if he can go a day without the protection of bodyguards.
This comes after days of protests in which they asked to meet the president so that he can address the high crime rate in their township.
Diepsloot is one of the most impoverished areas which is located in Johannesburg North and they have been battling high crime rates for years.
The residents converged outside Randburg magistrates court were they had gone to protest.
They were protesting against the arrest of three community leaders who were arrested during the protests last week.
The three community leaders have spent the weekend behind bars, after they were arrested and charged for crimes including public violence.
One of the protestors outside court asked if President Ramaphosa could go for a day without his trusted bodyguards.
They are adamant that his answer could define what they are going through in their community.
Reverend Thokwane Dithuge, who has been at the forefront of the community protests, told journalists on Monday that the government does not care for poor citizens.
He stated that the government should intervene and address the challenges they are facing.
“This (arrest) is a delaying tactic. We had communication with the office of the president, we were going to sit around a table to say this is the way forward, the approaches and timelines, but our government does not value poor people, in particular a poor black person,” Dithuge told broadcaster eNCA at the court.
Meanwhile, the residents are still calling upon the president to go to the township and address them in person.
No comment could be obtained from the presidency.
Source: https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/diepsloot-protest-would-you-be-safe-without-bodyguards-for-a-day-mr-president-2a12f281-84a5-4e44-980f-1ca2b0218323
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