Matric pupil arrested in service delivery protest

A PORT Elizabeth matric pupil missed a trial exam yesterday after he was arrested for interfering with police during a service delivery protest in Missionvale.

Khwezi Lomso High School pupil Nthuthuzelo Mali, 19, was supposed to sit for his civic engineering exam, which is part of the September matric trials.

But he was arrested for interfering with the police as they tried to arrest one of the protesters for public violence in the Rolihlahla informal settlement.

Angry residents blocked Uitenhage Road from about 6am yesterday with burning tyres.

Police had to use rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Msuthu Mofokeng, 45, a security guard who was heading home after a night shift, was also arrested.

Community leader Thandisizwe Mandla, 42, said it had not been a violent protest and they had only burnt tyres to get attention from the municipality.

“The two people arrested were not even part of the protest. Mofokeng had just returned from his night duty and Mali was on his way to write his trial exams at 2pm.”

Mali’s older brother, Sinethemba, who is his guardian, was at work when the incident happened.

Khwezi Lomso High School principal Cecelia Behrent said she was sorry to hear about Mali’s arrest.

“This is a crucial time for the matriculants and I would not imagine that a matric pupil would have time to riot,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents said they were unhappy about living conditions in the informal settlement.

Mirriam Mata, 65, said: “We are not fighting but we want houses. Our area is neglected because we don’t have proper roads and there is only one communal tap ... in this area.”

Police spokesman Captain Johan Rheeder confirmed that two people had been arrested and would appear in court today.

“I don’t know what is going to happen to the young boy. The case is with the detectives,” he said.

Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki referred questions to Ward 32 councillor Sandra Fillis who could not be reached for comment.