Protesters set five vehicles on fire and vandalised a local radio station
A local radio station has requested help after being vandalised and looted by protestors.
The only option for residents of eMalahleni to express themselves appears to be through public violence.
During the weeklong protest, four trucks were set on fire on the N4, and a police van in Lynnville, a local radio station, Emalahleni FM, was destroyed and other equipment stolen.
This arises after locals from eMalahleni’s surrounding areas joined the KwaGuqa and Vosman protests over power outages.
On Tuesday, May 9 it was reported that a police van was set alight at Vosman Satellite Police Station in Lynnville, as well as a truck on the N4, but the other vehicle’s incident information has yet to be confirmed.
As a result of the damage, the radio station, which is a vital source of news and information for the community, was forced to go off air.
It was vandalised on Friday, May 12, by a group of protestors armed with weapons as part of the ongoing power outage protests.
The criminals forced their way into the studio by busting down the main door.
The community broadcaster had four laptops and two desktop computers taken, as well as furniture that had been destroyed.
The protestors, however, were unable to gain entrance to the on-air broadcasting studio.
Emalahleni FM is back on the air, but they are still pleading with the eMalahleni community, particularly Lynnville, to assist them with information that may lead to the recovery of the broadcaster’s stolen property, which contains confidential information about the station as well as another programming, production and newsroom information.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Emalahleni FM at 071 175 1528 or 072 741 2684.
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