Citizens of the Merafong municipality, which includes Carletonville, were not consulted on a decision to incorporate the area into the North West, a South African Communist Party spokesperson said on Thursday.
The demarcation has failed the community, which wants to stay in Gauteng, said Jomo Mogale, local chairperson of the SACP.
He said residents received a notice on Monday saying they would be incorporated into the North West.
”We want to fall under Gauteng. There are many problems with service delivery in the North West. In Gauteng, we receive attention on time,” Mogale said.
He condemned the burning of the municipal offices by protesters on Thursday morning.
”I condemn the burning. But if the government could not have confused us with two notices, I don’t think it would have happened.”
If the people’s demand to stay in Gauteng is not met, ”the struggle continues”, he said.
Hundreds of residents of Khutsong filled the stands of the stadium in Khutsong North on Thursday, singing, chanting, whistling and stamping.
”We didn’t sleep last night and we won’t sleep until we get what we want,” said a grade-11 pupil at a local school, Paul Nkabinde.
Street protests
Earlier on Thursday, a small group chanted at the entrance of the Khutsong township in protest against their incorporation into the North West.
A group of more than 1 000 had marched off in the direction of Khutsong South.
Residents littered the roads leading to Khutsong North and Khutsong South and Welverdiend with rocks, while tyres smouldered in the intersection.
Hundreds more who stayed away from work lined the streets.
Captain Jurie Ferreira of the Khutsong police said what started as a peaceful protest earlier this week turned violent due to criminal elements.
He said 25 people arrested on Wednesday for public violence had all been released on warning.
”No matrics are writing [examinations] in the Khutsong area. Nobody’s at school,” he said.
Asked what he thought about being incorporated into the North West, Ferreira said: ”I don’t care either way, I work for the state.” — Sapa