Reading Time: 2 minutes
Seven people have been arrested in ongoing public violence in Thabong, Welkom, Free State. Residents had barricaded roads with burning tyres and rocks.
The protest started over the lack of water in the area. Shops belonging to foreign nationals have been looted.
Residents say there has been no water from their taps since last Sunday.
Free State police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele explains, “Streets were barricaded with burning tyres, big stones and rubbish, foreign national’s shops were looted. Seven people, all in all, were arrested. A case of malicious damage of property was also registered. The situation is currently under control as members of Public Order Policing are monitoring the situation.”
Basic services
Meanwhile, residents of Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, are marching for an improvement in their basic services. The community-led by Mamelodi Unite says the deteriorating state of their township is what prompted them to embark on this action.
Mamelodi has experienced a spike in criminal activities such as car hijacking and business robberies.
The community feels Gauteng Premier David Makhura does not take their situation seriously.
Mamelodi Unite Chairperson Tsaka Tsepedi says they demand the provincial authorities to attend to their plight.
“We are marching because most important issues like health facilities of Mamelodi are in poor conditions. Sports grounds are in poor condition. We need a museum and RDP houses because most of the RDP houses are occupied by foreign nationals. We ask ourselves how come we, South Africans, don’t have RDP houses.”
