Police allegedly supplying tyres for protests
11 April 2014 8:47
Councillors in
LekwaTeemane local municipality have accused police of colluding with
protesters in Boitumelong, Premier Thandi Modise’s office has said.
“Modise was informed
of the allegation that some police officials are brazenly supplying tyres to be
burned as part of the violence,” spokesperson LesibaKgwele said yesterday.
The allegations were made
at a meeting yesterday between Modise, municipal mayor MoederMakodi,
councillors and police management held at the Bloemhof police station near
Boitumelong.
Kgwele said the premier
called for an in-depth investigation into who was instigating the violence so
that they could be brought to book.
Modise said: “We expect law
enforcement not to take any prisoners and to ensure that those who seek to
hijack genuine community concerns face the full might of the law.”
The protests began last
week, with protesters accusing officials of nepotism and corruption.
On Monday, residents
blocked the N12 and set alight a municipal office, community hall, houses
belonging to the mayor, two councillors and two officials, and several
businesses.
By Tuesday, the protest had
spilled over to Coverdale in Christiana, where a community hall was torched on
Wednesday.
Kgwele said police had
arrested 136 people in connection with the destruction of property and torching
of houses.
“Police reported that more
arrests of ring leaders are expected after cars belonging to two councillors
and a municipal official were torched on Wednesday night in Christiana.”
Police reinforcements have
been called from other areas within the province and neighbouring Free State to
deal with criminality in the area.
“Schooling was affected at
eight schools since the reopening of schools on Monday,” Kgwele said.
“Meanwhile, five spaza
shops were reportedly looted and torched in neighbouringWolmaransstadt as
violence spread to Maquassi Hills local municipality yesterday.”
The public works and
transport department would start clearing debris and barricades from today to
normalise the situation and ensure that schooling resumed on Monday.
A specialised traffic unit
had been sent to the area to direct traffic and if necessary escort trucks
passing along the N12.
- Sapa
