Juju Valley riots likened to criminality disguised as political activism

POLOKWANE – Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe has likened the political riots that erupted in Juju Valley (Seshego) on Sunday, to criminality disguised as political activism.

She urged community members to remain vigilant against further instability, especially with the general elections approaching next Wednesday.

Hadebe made this statement following several attempted murder cases filed at the Seshego Police Station.

These incidents occurred after violence broke out between ANC and EFF members and supporters, leading to the shooting of a nine-year-old girl and a 25-year-old man.

Read more: Juju Valley unrest: Four more attempted murder charges opened

Provincial Community Policing Forum member, Mabotse Mothiba, reported that two others sustained injuries: one with a broken leg and another with a dislocated arm after being hit by stones.

At the time of going to print, it was unclear who was responsible for the shootings.

According to councillor Mafiwa Leballo, the EFF in the area was holding a football tournament.

Concurrently, the ANC Peter Mokaba Region had announced plans to hand over gazebos to branches in the ward and conduct a door-to-door campaign in Juju Valley.

Sources indicated that some community members were not welcoming to ANC campaigners during their door-to-door activity, leading to a clash where groups pelted stones at each other.

Police swiftly intervened in the highly violent environment, where bystanders were among those affected. Prominent ANC leaders, including Thabo Mokone and John Mpe, were present during the party’s campaigning activities.

Following the incident, the ANC condemned “in the strongest terms, political intolerance.”

The EFF in Limpopo said the violence was between the area’s residents and ANC leaders, in a statement it released on Monday.

“The EFF in Limpopo reaffirms the rights of all political parties to campaign freely across the Republic of South Africa without fear of hindrance or inflammation’,” it read.

In the meantime, Hadebe called for calm and condemned the violence.

“The safety and security of our communities, especially during the election period, is of utmost importance. The police will intensify efforts to maintain law and order and ensure the perpetrators of this heinous act face the full might of the law,” she said.

Brig Hlulani Mashaba mentioned on Sunday evening that investigations were ongoing and that they expected more cases to be filed.