Mogalakwena protests: arrested protesters let off
The suspects appeared before the Mokerong magistrate's court for public violence and malicious damage to property during the protest.
MOKOPANE – “I am pleading for your assistance your honour, I think you can agree with me that the last two weeks the Mokerong Magistrate’s court has been very busy with suspects arrested during the protest against Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine. All we as a community is requesting is a meeting with the mine management to address our concerns and then this situation will calm down,”
This was the plea of Jossey Buthane, Limpopo secretary of the EFF, at the magistrate court on Monday morning.
Residents of more than five villages in the Mapela area are protesting since last Monday. They demand action to address unemployment and bad infrastructure in their villages. The residents also disapprove of the relocation of a school to be adhered by the mine.
Properties, including a mobile clinic and the Mapela tribal council office have been burnt down including a truck transporting potatoes. One of the vehicles of an employee of the mine was set alight last Friday night. Phaladingwe Highs School, that was built by the mine to replace an earlier school in Skiiming village which was demolished for expansion, was burnt down on Tuesday night.
“Some of the residents were unhappy with the agreement that the children will be relocated to Phaladinwe High School, as it is about 5 km from their village,” a resident who would like to stay anonymous said.
Some employees returned to work last Wednesday and at a meeting on Thursday the chief executive officer (CEO) of the mine, Richard Cox, urged the employees to return to work, saying that their safety is the number one priority.
3 members of Eff arrested
Buthane, Nicolas Mabusela, Frans Molomo and Nancy Kgomo was arrested last Friday for allegedly inciting violence among the protesters.
All of the suspects except for Kgomo appeared before the Mokerong magistrate’s court on Monday on a charge of public violence. Kgomo could not appear in court due to the fact that she is pregnant and in the Mokopane Hospital for sustaining injuries during a confrontation between the police and the protesters.
The suspects were released on warning and the case was postponed to 30 September for further investigations.
“If the media wants to label me as a bad boy for standing up with the community and fighting for their rights to ensure a better future for their children – if that qualifies me to be a bad boy – then let it be.
“Prison is big enough to break my soul,” Buthane said after the court hearing. Mike Mathebe, EFF Limpopo Chairperson said the EFF will keep on supporting the community in their struggle.
41 suspects arrested during protests
A total of 41 suspects appeared before the Mokerong magistrate’s court last Wednesday, 36 for public violence and five for malicious damage to property during the protest.
The suspects were released on warning and the case was postponed to 30 September, reported Const Sello Leso, spokesperson of the Mahwelereng police station.
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Court releases Jossey Buthane without bail
