Volatile Zwelihle on lockdown

ZWELIHLE township in Hermanus remained volatile with police officers enforcing strict measures by controlling access in and out of the area yesterday.

More than 1 000 residents with placards reading “#HandsOffNdzongana” took to the streets chanting Struggle songs. They were demanding community leader Gcobani Ndzongana be released. They also want charges of malicious damage to property and inciting violence to be dropped.

However, Ndzongana’s case was postponed to today.

The Zwelihle Renewal Committee said: “When the fence was removed Ndzongana was not even there which shows he had been a target a long time. They deliberately arrested him to delay delivering land and build houses. This committee is not holding anyone hostage. The shutdown was agreed on as the community, meaning no one goes to work and no one refused the idea.”

Committee chairperson Sicelo Gxamesi distanced themselves from the burning of houses. Burning the houses of those who defied the shutdown was made by residents, he said. They were the ones held hostage as they “woke up surrounded by private security and police”, he said.

The municipality said damages to infrastructure amounted to R40 million.

Overberg municipality in conjunction with the Joint Operation Centre (JOC) said they were concerned over the health risk in Zwelihle because no public toilets in the informal areas have been cleaned or refuse removed for more than a week.

“Trenches have been dug to prevent access to Zwelihle. Should the area be stabilised and the SAPS declare the area safe, we are ready to start rendering services to the area.The Hermanus Community Day Centre will remain closed.”

Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said almost 5 000 pupils have missed four days of schooling as they were forced not to reopen four schools due to violence. “It is unacceptable that our schools had to close, but the safety of our learners and educators is paramount.

“We are pleading with those involved, believed to be a few rogue community members, to end the violence and find constructive ways of communicating their grievances.”

Police Minister Bheki Cele will visit the area today.