MAHIKENG MAIL-MAHIKENG: POTCHEFSTROOM: A group of faceless individuals on Monday led sporadic lawless protest actions across Mahikeng alleging to be community members.
The protest action resulted in barricading roads, disrupting teaching and learning at Baralong High school and torching a bus and municipal truck.
There was no clear indication given for the protest action when residents woke up to main and internal roads including N18 in Makhubung village and R503 in Danville and others were heavily barricaded with stones and burning tyres.
The Police also managed to arrest a 22-year-old male yesterday in connection with the incident that occurred at Batswana Commercial Secondary School in Montshiwa for malicious damage to property, assault common and intimidation.
That after the suspect allegedly intimidated, assaulted a teacher and damaged his cell phone during the protest action yesterday. The suspect appeared before the Molopo Magistrates’ Court in Mmabatho Wednesday.
Other cases of common robbery, malicious damage to property and damage to essential infrastructure were at the time going to press still under investigation. The incidents took place along the Albert Luthuli Drive near Extension 39 and at Montshiwastad village, whereby a bus and a mini delivery truck were torched.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned in the strongest possible terms the eruption of public violence incidents in Mahikeng. Lieutenant General Kwena requested all law-abiding citizens not to participate in violent and unlawful protests which are characterised by criminality and meant to cause anarchy and unnecessary panic among members of the community.
“We also urge members of the community including Community Police Forum (CPF) members to be the eyes and ears of the police by reporting instigators and anyone who incites violence,” he said.
The General also made it clear that the police would not hesitate to trace and arrest those who are responsible for these acts of violence.
Reports and suggestion were the perpetrators behind the protest action was caused by disgruntled ANC members who demanded payments for grass cutting.
