/ 1 October 2009

Situation ‘tense’ as Standerton protests erupt

Protests erupted once again on Thursday when Standerton’s Sakhile township residents barricaded roads with rocks and other materials, Mpumalanga police said.

”Hundreds of residents blockaded the R23 with rocks and tyres and other materials, preventing motorists from using the road to work,” Captain Leonard Hlathi said.

Disgruntled residents began protesting early on Thursday morning.

”Even though there have been no violent incidents, the situation is tense. There is currently a heavy police presence in the area.”

He said police would remove the materials from the road but protesters would barricade them once again.

The protests were sparked by an investigation that implicated several Lekwa municipal officials and councillors in acts of fraud, maladministration and corruption.

Quiet was restored to the area on Wednesday afternoon after the township had experienced violent protests since Sunday, when a house belonging to a municipal official was petrol bombed. — Sapa