57 arrested for public violence
2008-07-22 12:27
Johannesburg - Fifty-seven people were arrested for violent protests in Mpumalanga's Vukuzakhe township in Volksrust after a number of houses were torched, police said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Superintendent Abie Khoabane said they were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
"The situation at Vukuzakhe is calm. About 90 police officers have been deployed to monitor the situation 24 hours.
"There are still groups of around 30 people that are converging together, but police have managed to keep them under control," he said.
On Monday four houses were torched, one vehicle belonging to a local councillor and another belonging to police were damaged following protests by community members.
The SABC reported that residents were unhappy about a rates increase they say was instituted without proper consultation.
ANC councillor TS Mavimbela, whose house was torched, told Sapa that she and her children had lost everything. She and a small group of people had carried out the act, then broke off.
Democratic Alliance councillor Paul de Kock said the council recently increased rates by 7.8% and there had been resistance to this.
Last Monday some residents marched to the council's offices and handed over a memorandum raising their concerns.
- SAPA