Matimba Villagers say they won’t move

A man from Matimba Village was left with injuries and wounds after police opened fire on a crowd of protestors.

It is alleged that on Thursday, September 13, South African Police Services Witbank’s sheriff along with the Protection Services of Anglo handed out eviction letters to the residents of Matimba Village.

The residents of Matimba village protesting.

The letter stated that the residents should be out of Matimba Village in 45 days.

On Friday, September 14, the residents decided to hold a protest at the Khwezela main office regarding the eviction letters. Leaders from the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) arranged the strike.

“Unfortunately we sat there the whole day without any response, so on the Monday, September 17, we continued with our protest and still we got no response,” Terrence Masuku, a resident from Matimba Village explained.

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On Tuesday, September 18, the crowd of protestors decided to go and protest at Kleinkopjie (Bokgoni) where the relation and existence of Matimba Village started.

“Lucky us the protest came to the attention of Paul Sovia and Thanyani Nthangeni from head office,” Masuku further explained.

Allegedly Sovia and Nthangeni arrived with security and the police.

“Unfortunately our issues did not end well because one of our members got shot by a policeman without warning instruction what so ever.”

Allegedly the man was rushed to the hospital by some of the village leaders and a case was opened at Witbank Police Station.
Captain Eddie Hall from Witbank SAPS had the following to say,

“Public violence is policed by the SAPS on request from the mine. Illegal protestors are dealt with by security guards and the police. The police will use minimum force to disperse the crowds to protect property and the lives of people. Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act clearly states the levels of force that can be used by police to protect people’s lives and property. If any person gets injured by the police during the strike they can open a criminal case against the police. The case will be investigated by (IPID) The Independent Complaints Directorate of South Africa who will then investigate the case and decide whether or not the action was within the ambit of the law. Illegal strikes are illegal and SAPS will police within the ambit of the law to protect property and the lives of workers at the mine.”

The wound that was caused by a rubber bullet.

WITBANK NEWS reached out to Anglo American for further information regarding the problems at Matimba Village.

The Anglo American spokesperson, Mr Moeketsi Mofokeng explained the matter.

“For over four years, Anglo American Coal has attempted to regain control and regulate access to the said village but to no avail. Several consultations have been held with the occupiers in an attempt to regain possession of the property; however many of these occupiers have refused to vacate the said units. The company has raised various concerns over the increase of violence and intimidation from within the village. Anglo American Coal is therefore taking steps to evict the remaining illegal occupants from the Village. The company has flagged the following safety concerns in summary, the company have no records of the occupiers of the Matimba village, which poses a security risk to the very occupants of the said village; there is no regulated access in and out of the village; the increase in acts of violence and crime in the village in recent months, which crimes have been reported to the South African Police Services; and the prevention of maintenance staff of the company from accessing the property, thus the area has become hazardous to the community at large. In the past few months we have observed illegal tampering with the electrical installation in the complex, resulting in one of the units almost burning down. Despite efforts to engage with the occupiers, acts of intimidation have continued unabated.”