Protesting’

setting fire to branches and tree stumps lying across the main road into Riverton, vowing to “not leave” until the issue with Modupe was resolved.

They claim that Modupe is using funds generated by the DCPA, through mining and cattle farming on the land, for his own gain and taking away much-needed funds from specifically the youth in Riverton.

“We want him (Modupe) removed as chairman and investigated by the Hawks. He is making decisions about DCPA land without consulting us and is running the DCPA like his own side business. The people, who are supposed to benefit from this land, are living in shacks without electricity and water, while he is living a life of luxury and drives a expensive Range Rover. His corruption is obvious,” the protesters stated.

They said that Modupe was “not a DCPA beneficiary” and had no business there.

“He comes from Lesotho and has no roots here. He also has no say about what happens here. He must go,” the protesters demanded.

Modupe said yesterday that the protesters had “damaged mining equipment, blocked roads and destroyed the DCPA vehicle” after the interdict was taken out against them on Wednesday.

“After a judge granted the interdict, the protesters went straight ahead and violated the order,” he said.

“At 4am (yesterday morning) I woke up and heard people at the gate. I woke my kids and wife and we got into my vehicle to come to Kimberley. The protesters threw rocks at the vehicle and said they intended to kill me. After arriving in Kimberley, workers at my bottle store in Riverton informed me that they had set fire to my house and business. The mayor apparently visited the area later during the morning and the blocked roads were cleared,” Modupe said.

He further denied that DCPA members had not been informed about mining on the land, as well as denying that he was using money from mining operations for his own gain.

He further stated that it was not DCPA families staging the protest.

“Of the 104 family DCPA beneficiaries, only about 10 are involved in the protest. They, together with about 40 families living in shacks, were incited by a former DCPA chairman, who wants his position back,” Modupe said.

Responding to allegations that he was not entitled to land at Droogfontein, Modupe insisted that he was on the list of beneficiaries, stating that he was “born on Droogfontein” and his father was even instrumental in establishing a school in the area.

“How else would I have been elected unopposed as chairman for two terms?”