14 people appeared at the Witbank Magistrate Court charged with public violence.
This comes after there was a strike at Duvha Power Station on Wednesday morning, September 21. On the day, police arrived at the T-junction where they found the road closed with burning tyres and stones.
The police tried to disperse the crowd using tear gas and rubber bullets. The crowd then ran towards the bushes and the mountain.
Further information was received that on the Bethal Road, two trucks and a Quantum had blocked the way together with an estimated 50 people. The people there were burning tyres. Three people were arrested on the scene.
When police thought the situation had been diluted, another one raised it head. On the same day, around 12:00 a group of people went to the Witbank Police Station. The crowd was some of the people that were at the strike earlier at Duvha Power Station and were at the police station demanding that police release the three arrested. About 60 people were blocking the entrance to the police station.
When a police official tried to speak to them they became chaotic and started chanting struggle songs and shouting insults. The mob was warned that their actions were illegal but they proceeded and would not disperse.
An additional 11 people were arrested for public violence and interference with the police in the execution of their duties. In total, 14 arrests were made. Rumours are the strike at Duvha Power Station was about Masakhane residents who want first preference when the power station employs people to fill vacancies.
The people appeared in court on Wednesday, September 20 and the case was postponed to Wednesday, September 27
ALSO READ
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/90932/25-arrested-public-violence-kusiles-strike/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/98778/thirty-two-appeared-public-violence/
