Around 55% of public protests in South Africa happen in metro areas (major cities) and the main causes behind them are related to the way municipalities are run.

This is according to the fourth State of South African Cities report (SoCR) released yesterday by government to present a five-year perspective on the performance and conditions of the county’s largest cities.

The recent violent #TshwaneUnrest that has gripped the capital city and its surrounds are a stark picture of the state of affairs across South African, particularly urban areas.

According to the SoCR, between 2012 and 2014, Tshwane ranked third among metros that saw the most protests.

Tied at number one were the City of Joburg and Mangaung (Bloemfontein) at (14%).

Around 45% of protests across the country happened in non-metro areas (smaller cities, towns and rural areas).

“Violent protests reached a record high in 2014, when almost 80% of protests involved violence by participants or the authorities, compared to less than half in 2007,” the report said.

A combined total of 52% of protest happened because of issues related to municipal services and governance.

“It may be the case that protest issues relate to dissatisfaction with broader governance and/or service provision or demands for access to services that do not necessarily fall within the realm of municipal responsibility,” the report explains.

The SoCR adds that demands are often targeted at municipalities because protests happen at the local level and municipalities are considered the sphere of government closest to the people.

You can see more about social and spatial inclusion and freedom across South African cities in the SoCR.

[Image – CC Wikimedia Commons]