Baloyi to address Sasolburg protesters
2013-01-22 12:41
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A violent municipal demarcation protest led to 187 people being arrested. See all the pictures.
Sasolburg - Residents of Sasolburg were flocking to the
Moses Kotane Stadium in Zamdela in the Free State on Tuesday morning after
violent protests in the area.
Minister of Co-operative Governance and Public Affairs
Richard Baloyi was expected to address them.
Some carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. A
group inside the stadium sang and chanted struggle songs.
Children said they had been told not to go to school. Some
said they had gone, but their teachers were not there.
Roads in the area were covered with burnt debris on Tuesday.
A police helicopter hovered overhead to keep a watch on protesters.
Police said 187 people had been arrested since Sunday in the
protests, which were apparently about plans to merge Sasolburg with the Ngwathe
local municipality, under which Parys fell.
Constable Peter Kareli said no violence was reported on
Monday night.
On Monday, protesters set two trucks alight and injured two
police officers inside a Nyala (armoured) vehicle, which had became stuck in
mud.
Water cannons and rubber bullets were used to disperse the
crowd. Some residents barricaded roads and threw stones at police cars.
- Are you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.
- SAPA
