Johannesburg – The ANCYL on Wednesday slammed the violence in the Cape Town CBD, saying no amount of frustration can be used as an excuse to harbour and protect thieves and looters.

Shops and vendors’ stalls were looted and property damaged, said the police’s Frederick van Wyk.

He said it appeared around 3 500 people took part in the protest. No arrests had been made.

ANC Youth League Western Cape spokesperson Muhammad Khalid Sayed said in a statement that there was no justification for the criminal activity in the CBD.

“Those responsible should be held accountable for their actions,” he said.

It was sad that the legitimate plight of people demanding quality service delivery and access to land was vulgarised by thugs hiding among people with legitimate concerns, Sayed added.

Cope spokesperson Johann Abrie, in criticising the violence, said ANC councillor Loyiso Nkohla should be held accountable.

Abrie said that over the weekend, Nkohla told Nyanga residents: “You will not have to go hungry because there are so many places that you can loot in the CBD.”

He also allegedly told residents that the police could not arrest all of them because there would be too many people.

“President Zuma and the ANC’s lack to discipline their members might be interpreted as a silent endorsement of their actions,” said Abrie.

Sayed said the ANCYL would never support such anarchy.

“We live in a democratic South Africa where service delivery concerns ought to be championed within the framework of the law,” he said.

“We will always support our people in their genuine demands for a better life, but will never tolerate looting or violence as a method of protest.”

The ANC, and by implication the ANCYL, had always been and remained a peaceful and peace-loving movement in championing the legitimate concerns of all South Africans, said Sayed.

The ANC in the Western Cape was not available for comment.

– SAPA