The service delivery protest in Mmamahabane, Ventersburg, continued on Wednesday morning (17/05), after more than six residents had been arrested for public violence during a protest the previous day.
On Tuesday, both lanes of the N1 were barricaded with rubbish, stones, and burning tyres.
At about 14:30, angry residents walked to the office of the municipality, demanding water. These residents then proceeded to barricade the road when they did not get any response.
The traffic department had to be summoned to control the traffic in the Pienaar Street slipway so as to allow road users safe passage to Ventersburg.
“There were about 350 angry residents on the N1 and R70 road. Welkom’s Public Order Policing (POP), Tactical Response team, and the Ventersburg police members are at the scene to control the crowd,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
Rumours that the mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha, was prevented from leaving the Mmamahabane Stadium during a recent mayoral imbizo, have been denied by the municipality.
Spokesperson Tshediso Tlali says that at no stage was the executive mayor chased away from Mmamahabane.
“We are aware of the riots currently unfolding in Mmamahabane. We are investigating the cause and will respond in due course. However, we wish to discourage residents from embarking on violent protests and damaging limited infrastructure at their disposal,” he says.
Maxie Badenhorst of the DA says the mayor was held hostage by the residents during his imbizo in ward 1 on 2 May.
“I remember it was the day no member of the mayoral committee (MMC) arrived for my integrated development plan (IDP) because they attended the imbizo and I had to reschedule,” she says.
Badenhorst says what is disturbing about the protests is that children as young as ten years are being used to lob stones from the bridge onto the N1.
“All of our businesses and the schools have been closed. As soon as the police disperse the mob, they regroup and come back.
“Blame always goes to everyone else but Matjhabeng. It is either the previous administration or the workers. Or, in this case, Bloem Water. If you talk to Bloem Water, it is either the previous administration, Sedibeng, or Matjhabeng. Nobody is prepared to chin up and take responsibility,” she says.
Manie Pretorious of the FF Plus says residents have suffered poor service delivery, lack of water, and the inability of the municipality to maintain service delivery standards.
