WATERVAL BOVEN – The municipal offices and clinic, which had been run at an important historical landmark in the Lowveld, were burnt and gutted by furious protesters yesterday, following the killing of a high school learner by a police official the previous day.
By Friday calm had been restored to the town and neighbouring township.
Yesterday morning hundreds of residents of Engwenya township marched to the police station, demanding that an investigation be opened into the killing.
They started their protest against poor water quality and increased rates last Thursday when they blocked the N4. They have been demanding a meeting with the executive mayor of Emakhazeni Local Municipality, and getting no joy.
Ever since, a heavy police presence has been visible around the town, with enforcement from Middelburg, Hazyview and Secunda being called in.
The victim, Senias Jabulani Masete (21) started grade 11 on Wednesday. According to his aunt, Ms Gcinile Liza Sindane, he was on his way to visit his grandmother at around 17:30 when he got caught up in the protest.
She said police shot the boy in his torso and he fell down. An ambulance took him to Boven Hospital where he was declared dead.
She said Jabu was not actively part of the ongoing protest as he had spent the entire school vacation with his father, and not in Engwenya where he usually lives with his mother, Ms Dorah Thelma Sibanyoni.
“He was a good kid. The community is angry because it is not right that the police use real guns and real bullets when people are being peaceful.”
Also see: In Pictures – Service delivery protests continue in Waterval Boven
Sindane added that a rubber bullet had gone through the window of her mother’s house on the Saturday. Ms Rebecca Elden Sibanyoni showed Lowvelder the bullet, as well as five more she said she had picked up in her yard.
While initial reports had it that there was a second person injured during the incident, spokesman for the provincial police, Sgt Gerald Sedibe, confirmed nobody else were injured. He confirmed the fatal shooting incident.
“The victim was part of a group which attacked a police officer with stones. Shots were fired and as a result he was shot. A murder case has been opened and handed over to the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (Ipid) for further investigation.”
Ipid spokesman, Mr Robbie Raburabu, said on Thursday afternoon that they only had the information the police had supplied to them.
According to this, the officer got out of a Nyala, when a group tried to take his firearm. He tried to run, realised he would not be able to outrun them, and fired a warning shot from his side pistol, which apparently hit the victim.
Yesterday morning protesters blocked some roads with burning tyres and trash. One of the community elders, Mr Elias Hlaka, said rates were too high for the services residents were getting.
“We are drinking rubbish water. We are not getting services. There is only one garbage-removal truck servicing us and other towns. And yet, elderly people, people out of work, must pay the municipality.”
Hlaka said rates are anything from R270 to R530 per month.
“What do they have left at the end of the day to feed their families? This (protest) is not sudden action. There have been many steps along the way, but our issues have never been addressed properly.
“The municipality claims there is no money for Waterval Boven, it doesn’t make sense.”
Hlaka pointed out that the only Engwenya residents not participating in the march, were those who couldn’t walk. He hoped the situation would be resolved as soon as possible, as children were missing school and people were missing work.
Soon after, when the protesters dispersed, some could be seen looting a liquor store, while the municipal offices and neighbouring clinic were set alight. Sedibe confirmed that seven suspects were arrested for public violence and possession of stolen property after looting Model Drankwinkel.
On Wednesday three people were arrested for public violence after barricading the road into Waterval Boven.
A 40-year-old woman was apprehended for interfering with police duties, after allegedly interfering with her son’s arrest. All four were released on bail of R500 and are due back in court on February 10.
On Wednesday night the community hall and fire station were also set alight. Sedibe said the fires were being investigated.
The beautiful, old municipal building was gutted. One of the nurses was devastated. “This clinic is my life. And I know the needs of this community. It needs it.”
Members of the Belfast fire brigade had to be called to assist. They were putting out the fire in town at about 11:00, while protesters were rolling a fire vehicle down a street in Engwenya, in the direction of Jabu’s grandmother’s house.
Raburabu asked that anyone with information must contact him on 082-926-1067 or 013-754-1000.
