Trichardt Police arrest seven people after protest turns violent

TRICHARDT – Disgruntled members of the Holfontein community took to burning tyres and blocking the Vlaklaagte Road and the N17 highway near Trichardt, from Sunday through to Monday morning, 18 March.

The protest erupted as community members felt they were being ignored by the Govan Mbeki Municipality and the executive mayor, Ms Thandi Ngxonono.

The original Holfontein squatter-camp residents were removed from farmland in 2016 and settled at Vlaklaagte near the Syferfontein and Isibonelo Mines.

Residents claim promises were made to them that they would be relocated to an area where services would be rendered.

A group of about 20 residents initially voiced their grievances to the Govan Mbeki Municipal offices on Friday, 8 March.

They held a peaceful march and handed over of a memorandum that stipulates their complaints.

Although the residents wanted to present the memorandum to the executive mayor, she was not available to receive it.

The grievances include the lack of services and the lack of feedback from the executive mayor, who allegedly promised to relocate the communities to an area near Adullam between Evander and eMbalenhle.

They gave the municipality an ultimatum to respond within seven days.

Mr Benzi Soko, municipal spokesman, said on Monday morning that the mayor did meet with the leadership of the protesters on Sunday afternoon.

“The leaders agreed to a meeting with the department of planning and social development. In the meantime we are working through their memorandum,” said Mr Soko.

Mr Bongani Nkosi, community leader, said they will not stop protesting until Ms Ngxonono moves them to the place she had promised them.

He said Ms Ngxonono promised the residents that they will be allocated stands near Adullam Mission Station.

“We are sick and tired of her empty promises, we want the land she promised.

“She told us that a contractor set to install pipes in that place was already appointed.

“We were moved from Holfontein and promised that we will be given a permanent place, but that never materialised. We’ve had several meetings with her and she kept assuring us that we will get the land.”

“We’ve met with her on Sunday, 17 March, and she promised to return on Monday, 18 March, to give us good news in black and white, however, she did not pitch up. She instead instructed police to shoot at us,” said Mr Nkosi.

The shack of a policeman from the Public Order Policing Unit whose job it is to control illegal protests, was also set alight.

The shack is in the Syferfontein settlement.

Const Valencia Koma, spokesman for the Trichardt Police, said the mob of about 400 protesters was dispersed with force on Monday morning and seven people were arrested in connection with public unrest.

The situation was tense and unpredictable by Monday afternoon. Const Koma said the police are monitoring the situation.

Also read:

https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/134706/breaking-news-protesters-burn-tyres-n17-near-trichardt/