Gauteng police put a halt to a meeting on Thursday at Khutsong Stadium by residents protesting their municipality’s incorporation into the North West from Gauteng.
”We want to warn people not to go to the stadium,” said Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht after the police successfully opposed residents’ court application to demonstrate.
”If they go there, police will act against them,” said Martins-Engelbrecht, adding that every meeting of residents has ended in unrest and riots.
Although the situation in Khutsong remained calm on Thursday, police maintained a strong presence in the area.
They arrested 71 people for public violence on Wednesday when residents went on the rampage after hearing that a Bill had been passed allowing the redemarcation of municipalities — including Merafong.
Other contentious areas among the 17 cross-border municipalities affected are Matatiele (KwaZulu-Natal to Eastern Cape), Bushbuckridge (Mpumalanga and Limpopo), and Khalagadi (North West to Northern Cape).
Several houses, a church and the community hall were burnt in the rioting. Police had to fire rubber bullets at protesters who threw stones and bottles at their armoured vehicles.
A police officer’s face was badly burnt in a petrol-bomb attack, another was hurt by a stone and three more sustained other injuries.
Khutsong residents have been demonstrating since November against the proposed redemarcation, arguing that Gauteng is wealthier and better able to provide services.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions said on Thursday it cannot condone the burning of houses during protests in Khutsong this week.
However, it understands the community’s frustration at the National Council of Provinces’ approval of legislation to do away with cross-boundary municipalities.
”Parliament’s decision, although regrettable, was taken legitimately, and all South Africans should abide by the law of the land,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven. — Sapa