More than 50 protesters were taken into police custody this morning after blocking Samora Machel Drive during a protest action against violent crime against women.
One woman told Lowvelder that they were being attacked by thugs hiding in the thick overgrowth between Brenda Street and Samora Machel Drive. They said two women had been raped last week, and another one the week before.
“We are angry. They caught the suspects but we heard they let them out again. We want justice,” said one woman who didn’t want her name mentioned.
A man taking part in the protest said young men hid in the thicket and attacked the women who passed by.
Another protester explained that they were not a formal organisation but they all worked at different companies located in Brenda Street. Everyone using public transport have to walk to work from town, passing the bushes.
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She said they had marched to the municipal offices last week, requesting that the thicket be cut down, but nothing has happened. She says they had requested Mbombela Local Municipality numerous times to cut it down.
“Every time we follow up on it they act like it is the first time they hear about it. This is the only language they understand,” she said about the protest action. “It doesn’t affect them directly, so why would they do anything about it? So we are fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves.”
She said the women were afraid to go to work. One of her colleagues added that she had also been mugged a few days ago.
They said the police wee fully aware of the situation. The latter loaded the protesters into vans and took them to the police station.
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