Sasolburg under control, still tense - police
2013-01-24 07:40
Sasolburg - A house was stoned and a construction site was
set alight in apparent criminal attacks in Sasolburg overnight, Free State
police said on Thursday.
"It appeared to be criminally motivated: people taking
an opportunity," Constable Peter Kareli said.
Two people have died and several have been injured in
protests in the town since Sunday.
The motive for the attack on the house was not known, as it
was not owned by a municipal official, he said.
"About 12 or 13 people started throwing stones at the
house, then they ran away." No one was injured.
Back to work
On Thursday morning, residents began returning to work after
recent protests over municipal demarcation.
"Everything is under control, although the situation is
still tense," Kareli said
Residents started protesting on Sunday in opposition to the
proposed merger, in 2016, of the Matsimaholo municipality in Sasolburg with the
Ngwathe municipality, under which Parys falls.
Co-operative Governance and Public Affairs Minister Richard
Baloyi announced on Tuesday that the merger would not immediately go ahead.
Kareli said that late on Wednesday afternoon residents, of
their own volition, began to clean up the debris left on the streets after the
protest.
"We are still going to have a lot of police officials
in the area until we are convinced that the situation is calm," he said.
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- SAPA
