Kgatle, Mookgo Solomon2017-08-152017-08-152017-04-24Kgatle, M.S., 2017, ‘The causes and nature of the June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane: A practical theological reflection’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 73(3), a3845. https://DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v73i3.3845.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v73i3.3845http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61657Dr Kgatle is participating in the research project ‘Socio-cultural Readings’, directed by Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck, Department of New Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.South Africa has recently experienced a series of public protests. The common element is that violence is becoming evident in these protests. This article uses the June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane as an example to address the root causes of such protests. On 20 June 2016, the African National Congress (ANC) announced that the city of Tshwane mayoral candidate for the 3 August 2016 municipal elections in South Africa is the former public works minister and ANC National Executive Committee member, Thoko Didiza. Consequently, public protests in the city of Tshwane emerged immediately after this announcement. These public protests were very violent, such as protesters killed one another, burned buses, looted shops and barricaded roads. The root causes of these violent protests are identified as factionalism, tribalism, sexism, economic exclusion and patronage politics. The purpose of this article is a practical theological reflection on the root causes of June 2016 protests in the city of Tshwane. The main aim of this article is a practical theological solution to the general problem of violent protests.en© 2017. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Municipal electionsPublic protestsViolenceCity of TshwaneTheological solutionViolent protestsTheology articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingTheology articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationTheology articles SDG-05SDG-05: Gender equalityTheology articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesTheology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle