STEELPOORT – The R555 turned into a nightmare on December 6 when protesters set alight trucks and buses. The violence erupted at 14:00 when sources reported that protesters were traveling with a minibus, throwing petrol bombs and rocks towards vehicles on the R555.
At 21:00 last night the protesters were still running riot as they blockaded the roads and the Steelbridge.
According, to our sources the communities are unhappy because of lack of employment opportunities at the local mines. They alleged that other communities were benefiting from the locals mines while the inhabitants of the nearby communities starved
The community members in Steelpoort also want the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM)’s executive mayor Cllr David Magabe to vacate his position.
“ Magabe is not representing us, he is enriching himself with the money he gets from the mines and forget about the needy,”they said.
According to other sources , the communities are unhappy with their leadership who is representing them in the negotiations with the mines in the area about employment issues.
Eight trucks belonging to Mc Donald transport, Isuza , Ngululu Bulk Carriers (NBC) were set alight. One bus as well as a minibus taxi was also torched. Three private cars were set on fire.
The road is currently cleared, public order police officers are deployed to monitor the situation. A meeting between the communities, SDM mayor David Magabe and
Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM)’s mayor Cllr Ralepane Mamekoa was disrupted by the communities as they wanted the mine managers to attend the meeting.
Another meeting will take place at the GTM’s chambers at 15:00, its not yet known if the mine managers will honour it. Steelburger/Lydenburg News will keep the readers updated as we receive information.
