Mob on rampage trashes buildings

This is what happens when you don’t listen to us, says protester

MORE than 1 000 people went on the rampage at the LIV Village non-profit organisation in Cottonlands, Verulam, trashing buildings, breaking down gates and looting machinery and equipment.

A clinic, the welding plant, the clothing factory and the printing factory, set up for the benefit of the community, were all vandalised.

The rock-throwing protesters, some of whom had been working at the LIV Village, stole sewing machines, computers and a fridge.

Earlier, as the mob blockaded the entrance and burnt tyres, the mothers and children living in the residential village were evacuated from their homes to a hall as the angry protesters began throwing rocks at security guards and staff.

“It is heartbreaking to see all these facilities vandalised, especially as they were set up for the benefit of the community,” said Tich Smith, the founder of LIV Village.

The village provides a family environment for orphans and vulnerable children.

It provides sustainable living opportunities for the local community through the village, factories and training facilities.

The clothing factory produces clothes that can be bought by local businesses.

But trouble flared yesterday when a group of community members from Cottonlands, next to LIV Village, mounted a protest against LIV to show their displeasure at the employment of people from outside communities.

The protest started with the protesters blocking the main and side entrances to the village by burning tyres.

After the mothers and children were evacuated to the hall, the protesters made their way to the first security gate, forced it open and entered the LIV property, pulling down fences, burning a wooden hut and uprooting road signs on their way to the main gate.

They forced the main gate open, broke down the gate to the factories, the training centre and the clinic and smashed a back wall.

They apparently broke into the factories, training centres, clinic and offices, looting and vandalising property.

A protester who asked not to be named said: “We were told this would be the last month that we would be working at the village. I first volunteered at the village for 15 months and worked there on a contract basis for four years. I have nowhere else to turn,” he said.

He said he had to provide for his elderly mother who relied on him for money.

“The committee that represents us had a talk with the managers at LIV Village, but the managers did not listen and take our demands seriously. This is what happens when you don’t listen to people’s grievances. Now, they have been shocked into listening,” he said.

He objected to the LIV Village hiring people who were not locals.

However, he added that it was sad some of the equipment was stolen during the protest.

Nine sewing machines and a fan were stolen from the clothing factory while other much-needed items were stolen from the village’s hydroponics plant, where plants are grown in a water solution.

Smith and the leadership team later had a meeting with the members of the area committee at the Verulam police station.

“The outcome of the meeting was LIV Village and the area committee have committed to working together to resolve the issues. All the parties have committed to setting up a task team to address the issues,” the LIV said.

“The biggest problem in the communities is the high percentage of unemployed people. Our aim is to skill, train and employ as many people from the community as possible, but LIV is limited by funding. We continue to look for funding all over the world for both the village and the businesses.”

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said about 1 000 community members embarked on violent protest action.

“They also vandalised the clinic and burnt the guard room at LIV Village.

“The situation is tense. Police are at the scene to stabilise the situation,” she said.