Protest-hit NC town calm ... for now

BARKLY West was calm yesterday following violent service delivery protests which erupted on Wednesday.

Earlier this week residents in the town barricaded the road leading into Barkly West and the intersection between Mataleng and De Beershoogte with burning tyres and trees after accusing the Dikgatlong Municipality of failing to provide them with adequate services.

Residents also called for the resignation of the Dikgatlong mayor and the chief financial officer after they claimed sewage problems at Barkly West Primary School were not addressed.

A resident said yesterday that local schools were open although attendance was low. “Parents took the decision to keep their children at home in fear that protests might erupt again. The schools were open but there were not many pupils present.”

She added that residents were unsure how the week would end or whether protests would flare up again next week.

“There has not been any communication from the municipality on the issues that were raised. We will have to watch and see whether people will go to the streets again.”

Commuters who travelled to Kimberley on Wednesday were unable to pass through the barricades after protesters closed the road from 5am. Residents also complained that their electricity had been cut unfairly because their accounts were in arrears.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Dimakatso Mooi, said 12 people were arrested and were expected to appear in court yesterday.

Mooi said the suspects were facing charges of public violence.

She added that the police would continue to monitor the situation.

The spokesperson for Northern Cape Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said that they were awaiting confirmation on a meeting with the municipality to address the sewage problems at Barkly West Primary School.