20 arrested for public violence

MORE than 20 residents from Msintsini village, near Mdantsane, were arrested for causing a public disturbance outside their ward councillor’s house on Thursday.

Those arrested were taken to the Nyibiba police station.

Ward 24 councillor Zameka Gajula said she had been at a meeting when she received a call from her neighbour telling her that a crowd had gathered outside her house.

“When I got there I could see the rubbish and what looked like human waste all over my house and in the yard,” she said.

Gajula said she was unable to discover what the protest was about since she felt threatened by the remarks and called the police.

“I do not even know what they were protesting about because these people are not from Mbekweni where I live but from Msintsini,” she said.

Msintsini and Mbekweni are separate residential areas but both fall under Ward 24.

Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch from a holding cell, Siyabulela Nogogo, one of the arrested protesters, said they were protesting because the councillor had hired people from her own community for a project meant for them.

The project includes the installation of flushing toilets.

Nogogo accused Gajula of favouring ANC members when selecting workers for projects.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed the arrests and said: “Charges of public violence and intimidation have been laid and the accused are expected to appear in court soon.” — ziphon@dispatch.co.za