Violence flares up in Balfour

2010-02-08 08:27

Balfour - Violence flared up again at Siyathemba township in Balfour at the weekend, when residents turned on foreign shop owners, Mpumalanga police said on Monday.

"They started last night [Sunday] and they burnt the shops of foreigners," said Sergeant Sam Tshabalala.

Tshabala said he would have more information on the protests later in the day.

Last year, President Jacob Zuma visited Balfour following a series of protests at Siyathemba where residents demanded the removal of all Mbombela municipal councillors.

In July, residents took to the streets, burning tyres and barricading roads. About 30 foreign nationals had to stay the Balfour police station for safety reasons.

- SAPA