Sasolburg situation 'getting worse'

2013-01-21 14:32

Police. (File, AP)

Sasolburg - Residents of Zamdela township in Sasolburg set fire to two trucks during a protest on Monday, Free State police said.

"A truck standing a few metres away from the police station has been destroyed by the crowd. It is now on fire," Constable Peter Kareli said.

"There is another truck being destroyed by the R82 [road]. It [the situation] is getting worse."

Kareli said provincial police management had arrived to see what they could do. More police officers were being brought in.

Stones, barricades

Residents, who were protesting against municipal demarcation plans, were throwing stones and had barricaded the road.

Two police officers were injured earlier in the day. A police Nyala (armoured) vehicle had become stuck in mud and protesters had attacked the officers inside.

Kareli said water cannons and rubber bullets were used to try and disperse the crowd.

Co-operative Governance Minister Richard Baloyi was expected to meet officials from the Fezile Dabi municipality on Monday afternoon to discuss the protesters' grievances.

The protests started on Sunday when residents came out of a meeting about municipal demarcation. They were apparently unhappy about plans to merge Sasolburg with the Ngwathe local municipality, under which Parys falls.

Arrests

Nearly 90 people were arrested and charged with public violence on Sunday when they ran amok and looted shops in the township.

"More people were arrested at around 03:00 this morning [Monday] as they continued to loot shops," Kareli said.

The total number of those arrested since Sunday had not yet been officially tallied, but it was estimated that almost 150 people had been taken into custody.

Those arrested on Sunday were expected to appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of public violence.

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- SAPA