The number of service delivery protests peaked in the first quarter of 2010, with some 54 protests counted countrywide by research company Municipal IQ.
This number, counted in the first four months of this year, was very high considering that a total of 105 protests occurred over 12 months last year, said Municipal IQ managing director Kevin Allan. "It is significant that the first quarter of 2010 has experienced more than half as many protests as 2009," Allan said in a statement on Thursday. "In fact, March's protests equal last year's previously unprecedented July peak," he added, with the research showing that about 25 protests were counted in these two months.
Since Municipal IQ started compiling the report in 2004, the calmest year was 2006, when only two service delivery protests were recorded. Last year the most protests (105) were recorded, but this year could be the worst considering that the first quarter already saw 54 protests. In 2008, 27 protests were counted, in 2007 it was 32, in 2005, a total of three happened and in 2004 there were 10 protests.
Municipal IQ economist Karen Heese said Gauteng was the most affected province, with 41 percent of protests recorded in the first quarter of 2010. This was followed by Mpumalanga (13 percent), North West and Eastern Cape (both 11 percent), Limpopo (seven percent), the Free State (five percent) and Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape (all four percent).
Municipal IQ counts "sustained protests" that happen over a few days in one place as only one protest. It includes peaceful and violent protests directed at municipalities accused of providing poor services.
