Cop hurt in Eastern Cape protest
2013-02-25 19:27
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Police
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Johannesburg - A policeman was seriously hurt when he was
hit on the head with a beer bottle during a protest in Sterkspruit, in the
Eastern Cape, police said on Monday.
Police spokesperson Marinda Mills said Warrant Officer
Mhlangabezi Kakaza was among the police who responded to complaints that
protesters had blocked a road near Makhaleng location on Sunday morning.
When they arrived, four protesters tried to flee.
One of them attacked Kakaza with a beer bottle.
"He sustained an open wound to his forehead and was
rushed to a local hospital for medical attention and later transferred to a
city hospital where he is in a very serious but stable condition," Mills
said.
The investigation had not ruled out the possibility that
protesters "purposefully lured" police to the scene.
Three people were arrested and would appear in
Sterkspruit Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of attempted murder and
public violence.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta
said the police would not be swayed from maintaining law and order.
"We strongly condemn the violent and unlawful
behaviour of the protesters and request the community to stand together in
stopping these senseless actions that are not benefiting anyone."
Mills said protesters continued to barricade roads in the
Sterkspruit area.
The Daily Dispatch reported on Monday that roads between
Lady Grey and Sterkspruit were barricaded, and that protesters were demanding
money from motorists to use roads.
Sterkspruit residents, under the banner of the
Sterkspruit Civic Association, are demanding a stand-alone municipality which
is not part of the Senqu Municipality, which incorporates Lady Grey and Barkly
East.
Other complaints related to lack of service delivery in
Sterkspruit, and allegations of corruption and nepotism within the Senqu
Municipality.
The newspaper also reported that pupils in Sterkspruit
had been unable to go to school since 11 February, because roads were being
blocked with stones and burning tyres.
- SAPA
