Government staffer shot in Middledrift protests
Woman, 38, hit by rubber bullets as violence spills over at taxi rank
AWOMAN was shot twice with rubber bullets yesterday during a protest in Middledrift and Debe Nek.
Protesters barricaded the roads leading in and out of the small town of Middledrift, meaning motorists on the R53 between Alice and King William’s Town could not pass.
Police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said 14 people were arrested in Debe Nek and charged with public violence. More arrests were imminent as the protest continued.
Zimkhitha Ntsangani, 38, said she was shot while waiting at the taxi rank for a ride to work.
“I am a field worker for the department of cooperative governance and tradition affairs. I went to find transport because my car broke down. Police arrived and I was shot once in the buttock and once in the thigh with rubber bullets. Then I was arrested for public violence and disturbing the peace,” she said.
Ntsangani appeared at the Middledrift Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was released on warning. Her case was postponed to June 19.
“Police continue to keep the place under constant watch,” said Tonjeni. “We appeal to the community to find amicable ways of solving problems instead of illegal and violent protests that inhibit other people’s rights.”
He said those arrested would not be released until they had appeared in court, which would be soon.
Community leader Mzwandile Mgengo said the taps in a number of villages had run dry over a month ago. “The road between Debe Nek and Double Drift was supposed to have been tarred in 2006. “Nothing has come of that promise, and instead we are told the money has been diverted to another area.”
The Dispatch saw the smoking remnants of burned tyres that had been moved to the side of the R53.
Mgengo said the protest would continue until the community heard satisfactory responses from the provincial government. He was told that a number of people were arrested at another protest in Debe Nek.
Mongameli Kavi, deputy chairman of the Xesi Debe Taxi Association said bad roads were costing them money in vehicle repairs. Meetings with department officials yielded no results. Kavi said roads and transport MEC Weziwe Tikana had promised to look into their complaints but there were still no answers.
“We just want proper roads for our cars. We constantly have to repair shocks and front suspensions and pay for wheel alignment.”
It was very expensive to repair a Quantum minibus, Kavi said.
Roads and transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie said many complaints about roads in the province were raised in service delivery protests.
“The MEC felt we should analyse projects in the province and look into areas where promises were made and not delivered so that we can find a solution,” she said.
Rantjie said the Debe Nek road was supposed to have been regravelled but the community now wanted it tarred. “The unfortunate thing is that at this stage there are no funds. We are drawing up an inventory of road challenges so we can see how we can help,” she said.
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