Mayhem reigns in Lydenburg

Thirteen people were arrested and a security guard at Sassa was admitted to hospital after he had allegedly been beaten up by the protesters.
Several roads were blocked with burning tyres, rocks were thrown at the police and some shops were plundered.
The Public Order Unit from Hazyview and its Nyala vehicle were called in for assistance.
The demonstration was a joint action by the Mashishing community, several political parties and non-profit organisations.
Residents of Mashishing and the neighbouring informal settlements of Skhila and Manthenje continued their rampage after 21:00 in Mashishing and vandalised local businesses (see article elsewhere).
The executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM), Friddah Nkadimeng, was not at the municipality to receive their memorandum on Monday morning. She agreed to a meeting with the community leaders later in the week.
The protest was the result of unanswered requests regarding housing, service delivery and electricity interruption.
“Chapter 7, Section 152 of the Constitution clearly states the objectives every municipality must adhere to. Service delivery has collapsed. Enough is enough. The distribution of notices by the municipality to the residents, threatening to interrupt the power supply, has angered the community. The corrupt municipality and politicians steal the payments we make towards our electricity and then cut our power in the same breath,” said Pompies Ledwaba, one of the organisers of the march and chairperson of the Mashishing Civic Coalition.
The Eskom debt of Graskop, Sabie and Lydenburg is R1,3 billion.
The community members demanded the firing of Nkadimeng and Spiwe Matsi, the municipal manager.
They are frustrated with the potholes, crime, polluted drinking water and the dilapidated infrastructure.
Ledwaba said the municipality spends its budget on salaries instead of service delivery.
The Mashishing Civic Coalition claims to have evidence that RDP houses are given to councillors instead of the rightful owners.
“TCLM pays R15 million in salaries every month. They should improve service delivery first before they can blame the community for not paying,” he continued.
A local DA ward councillor, Gravette Herbst, said it is unfair that local businesses have to suffer because of these protests as they are not at fault.
“This turmoil led to the suspension of businesses on Monday, damage to buildings and infrastructure. We condemn their actions,” said Herbst.
Capt Kaizer Moela, spokesperson for Lydenburg SAPS, confirmed that 13 people had appeared in the Lydenburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence and the contravention of the Road Traffic Act on Tuesday. Seven of the suspects were released with a warning. The case for the remaining six was postponed till April 15 for further investigation.

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