LIMPOPO – Police in Phalaborwa have arrested seven suspects for the the incidents of public violence that erupted in Phalaborwa, Namakgale and Lulekane on Friday, 9 April.

Read more: Phalaborwa protests: Police vow to arrest those involved

Five of the seven, who include a South African National Defence Force member (53), are set to appear in the Namakgale Magistrate’s Court today. 

According to Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, the five, aged between 23 and 53, were arrested during a targeted raid at identified locations.

“The violent protests hugely disrupted tranquillity in the affected areas as children could not go to school, people could not go to work and shops were closed. More police members had to be deployed to quell the violence,” Mojapelo added.

He said the other two suspects, a 50-year-old man and 35-year-old woman, were the first to be arrested.

“They were apprehended on Monday, 12 April, and appeared in the Namakgale Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The woman collapsed in court soon after they were remanded in custody and had to be rushed to hospital where she has been admitted under police guard. Both will again appear in the same court on 20 April,” he explained.

Mojapelo said more arrests are expected.

The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, commended the members for tirelessly hunting down the suspects and bringing them to book.