Homemade shields and catapults to stone police
Looting continued unabated in North West capital Mahikeng yesterday as the call for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to vacate office grew.
In Lonely Park, north of Mahikeng, youngsters used catapults to loop stones at police along Nelson Mandela Drive near the Hotel School, while using corrugated iron sheets as shields.
Police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the raging protestors and in the midst of a catand-mouse game between them and the police, a truck parked in Lonely Park was petrol bombed.
North West police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Adele Myburgh said a Nyala police armoured vehicle was petrol-bombed in Danville, south of Mahikeng.
She said a police officer’s house was also attacked by a rioting crowd in Danville.
“She was not hurt, police members were near her house and assisted her. Only one room of her house was damaged,” Myburgh said.
The protest was ignited by the death of two people at Montshioa Stad Clinic on Tuesday. The two apparently could not receive medical attention at the clinic, due to the ongoing National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) strike in the province.
Members of Nehawu have been on strike since February 26, demanding the dismissal of head of department Dr Thabo Lekalakala; the termination of contracted companies by the department; a bonus payment of 5% across the board to all employees in the department; the payment of occupa- tion specific dispensation for employees at provincial offices; and an increase of community health workers’ salaries.
Residents also want North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo to resign because of allegations of rampant corruption under his leadership.
A motion of no confidence in him was postponed on Tuesday for the Economic Freedom Fighters to approach the courts to force the motion to be conducted through a secret ballot. Speaker Sussana Dantjie wanted an open ballot.– ANA