Cops continue to monitor Sterkspruit
2013-02-28 17:32
East London - A large police contingent was keeping watch in
Sterkspruit after a week of protest action there, Eastern Cape police said on
Thursday.
Brigadier Marinda Mills said that although the Sterkspruit
Civic Association (SCA) signalled their decision to suspend protest action,
police would maintain a presence.
Sterkspruit residents, under the banner of the SCA, shut
down the town for two weeks.
They demanded a stand-alone municipality separate from 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.
Protest on hold
SCA chairperson Mcebisi Mgojo said the organisation decided
to put the protest on hold after Co-operative Governance Minister Richard
Baloyi addressed residents at the Bensonville College Stadium on Wednesday.
The SCA would investigate the proper channels to make
complaints and expected these to be deal with within three months.
"We are willing to help facilitate the process,"
Mgojo said.
Earlier in the week, protesters reportedly blocked roads
with rocks and burning tyres and demanded a "toll fee" from motorists
who wanted to use the roads.
- SAPA
