Vuwani protest violence continues

AT LEAST six taxis and several other vehicles were damaged by protesters as violence continued unabated in Vuwani township in Limpopo.

Police said no arrests has been made, but investigations were under way.

It is alleged protesters were targeting taxi operators who were apparently defying community orders to suspend commuting business in the area.

Police spokesman Elaijah Malatji confirmed taxis were damaged, but owners were still opening criminal cases.

Shops and schools remained closed in violence-plagued Vuwani and surrounding areas as residents fought against government plans to incorporate their areas into a newly-established municipality.

Protesting residents took to the streets recently after they lost a High Court case against the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB).

At least 20 schools have been burnt and several damaged during the ongoing protests.

Residents accused the government of not consulting them when it took a decision to include their areas under the Malamulele municipality.

The MDB had resolved that Vuwani, Hlanganani and part of Makhado would be clustered under the planned new municipality.

Community leader Nsovo Sambo said it was never the community’s intention to to burn schools, but their grievances had been hijacked by criminal elements.

However, he was adamant the community would not back down on their demands.

“There is no need to engage government, we cannot continue to hold talks with the government, we will only suspend shutdown when government reverses the decision,” said Sambo.

“The situation will only change when the municipal demarcation board reverses the decision,” he added.

Sambo said they want their areas to be re-incorporated into Makhado municipality as it was never their desire or submission to be part of a new municipality.

The government deployed several senior ministers to the area in a bid to quell the community anger and to address the violence. – ANA