Who are going to pay millions of rand to repair the road what it was – tax money? Police have arrested (only) nine “service delivery” protesters including a man who was caught on video operating a “hijacked” excavator, which he used to dig up roads between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The protesters were arrested for public violence and malicious damage to public property, North West police said on Thursday.
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Colonel Adele Myburgh said the suspects – three women and six men aged between 18 and 46 – were arrested on Wednesday, 26 June 2019. “The suspects’ court appearance stems from their arrests at Extension 11, Ikageng Location outside Potchefstroom following violent protests in the early hours on Wednesday,” said Myburgh.
“It is alleged that approximately 300 residents of Extension 11, barricaded N12 road with various objects since five in the morning on Wednesday, 26 June 2019. “The illegal act led to closure of the road and motorists who travelled between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp or vice versa had to use the Mooibank road as alternative.
“In the course of the protest action, the protesters allegedly pelted the police and motorists with stones while goods were looted from a delivery truck.”
Available information suggests that as part of protests action that started on Monday, June 24 2019, an excavator was used to dig up holes and damage internal roads leading to Kanana and Top City in Ikageng location on Tuesday afternoon.
“A case of malicious damage to property has been opened and a 36-year-old suspect has been arrested,” said Myburgh.
The arrested suspects will appear in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 28 June.
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If you look at the video, there are no police nearby to stop o take those in that hijacked an excavator from a business in Klerksdorp, North West province to destroy a highway. Protesting and terrorism is ongoing in South Africa to ruin the economy of each town and city. Most of those terrorists like to have just nothing, but in a week’s time they are the same people demanding new roads. How many of those in the townships are immigrants and illegals that demanding free services for years. And nobody in the crowd stop them to do so much damage to the road. It is only two days later that only nine people were arrested. Nobody in a hurry to stop the terrorism. It is time that those that destroy, must rebuild it again without any payment.
PREVIOUSLY
25 June 2019
On 25 June protestors allegedly hijacked an excavator and started to break up the road at the Sarafina entrance next to the N12 between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.
Protests have been ongoing for three consecutive days. On Monday (24 June) two separate protests erupted in Ikageng, one in Ward 06 where protestors demanded the resignation of the ward councilor and one where the youth of Ward 19 protested over stand allocation. The incident with the excavator seems to be a continuation of the Ward 19 protests.
Victor Boqo said on Monday that the Mayor is out of town attending a meeting. It is not clear if he has returned to deal with the protestors.
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It was reported on 27 June 2019 that the owner of the construction company whose excavator machine was hijacked and used by service delivery protesters to damage the road, fears for the future of his business.
Speaking to The Star following the circulation of a video showing a community member using the machine to break up parts of the road in Sarafina informal settlement, Klerksdorp, the businessman said he has been receiving threats following Tuesday’s protest in the North West town.
“Right now, business is not running. We are currently trying to assess the situation to see if we can continue to operate but we are not safe,” an employee said.
The company owner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said this was not the first time the firm was being targeted by protesters.
“Two weeks ago, I got a call that protesters had taken my two trucks to the N12 and held my driver hostage. I lost about R36000 that day and police had to rescue my driver,” he said.
He said although community members said they were not fighting the business, they threatened to “harm workers if the company did not co-operate”.
“They have informed us that they are not fighting us but they need our machines. They also said if we are not willing to assist, they will hurt us,” said the man.
Tebogo Ngomezulu, a community leader, said: “We just want the land so that a geographical assessment can be done.
“We agreed to just barricade the road and burn tyres, but others have obviously come with ideas to get people’s attention by stealing and destroying the roads.”
The ANC deputy chairperson in the area Godfrey Xhalabile said the protest was sparked by people who had, for years, been looking for land to occupy.
Potchefstroom police spokesperson Adele Myburgh confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property was being investigated.
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26 June 2019
The JB Marks Municipality has said in a statement that refuse trucks will be temporarily withdrawn from the greater Ikageng area, reports Potchefstroom Herald.
This decision was taken in light of the violent protests in the area. Refuse trucks were specifically targeted by protesters.
“The municipality regrets this eventuality but is working hard consulting with representatives of the protestors and the police to bring the situation back to normal,” read the statement.
ONAFHANKLIK 