Residents of Bothaville’s Kgotsong township ran riot in a protest over service delivery on Tuesday, burning shops, disrupting schools and damaging property.
Free State police spokesperson Inspector Stephen Thakeng said the situation in Kgotsong is tense and police are keeping a close watch.
”Stone-throwing incidents have occurred through the day and reports of one or two of the shopkeepers that were injured during looting incidents have been received,” said Thakeng.
”We are patrolling the area to restore stability,” said Thakeng.
Police reinforcements were brought in from Potchefstroom and Welkom.
On Tuesday, residents blockaded roads in the township with stones and damaged property. The house of a local police officer was among several that were stoned.
Thakeng said more than 40 people were arrested by Tuesday afternoon and will appear in the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence soon.
Eleven residents were taken into custody on Monday after a group went on the rampage during a protest march. The group marched to the Nala municipality offices in Bothaville to hand over a memorandum with demands about service delivery.
Police said the protesters apparently expected an official from the office of the Free State minister for local government and housing to accept the document, but no one arrived.
”Residents went on a rampage by throwing stones at the Nala municipality offices,” said Thakeng.
”Area crime-fighting unit members managed to control the crowd by firing rubber bullets.”
Demonstrators proceeded to Kgotsong, where they threw stones at the house of a municipal official, shattering windows.
Police warned that ”criminal elements” using the situation to their advantage will be severely punished. — Sapa