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PICTURES: Violence in Ladybrand - this is what happened

───   16:42 Tue, 10 Mar 2015

PICTURES: Violence in Ladybrand - this is what happened | News Article
1. Angry residents who were evicted resorted to rioting.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock
 
2. Foreign shops were looted and a Pakistan business owner was rushed to Bloemfontein for urgent medical attention.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock
 
3. According to sources, 3 people were injured when the police fired rubber bullets.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock
 
4. Learners were forced out of school premises and fences were broken down.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock 
 
5. Two ward councillors’ houses were burnt down.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock
 
6. A truck was stoned down by disgruntled members of the community.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock
 
7. The evictions were handled by The Red Ants - given the name by members of the community due to the uniforms they wear.
 
 
Picture: Owen Kock 
 
8. Reports later suggested that children got involved with looting shops.
 
 
Picture: via Kaye Durant 
 
9. There is currently no plan to accommodate the displaced residents of Manyatseng.
 
 
Picture: Ladybrand Rekord 
 
 
 
Violence erupts (13:00)
Violence has erupted in Ladybrand in the eastern Free State. Chairperson of the Mantsopa Residents Association, Kaye Durant, says the eviction, by the Red Ants, started at 06:00 this morning. They however left when the Manyatseng community became violent. The Red Ants later returned, accompanied by the police, and continued evicting people. Durant says currently it's an all out war.
 
Several foreign owned businesses are being looted, schools have been broken into, two ward councillors had their houses burnt down and several school kids have been displaced due to the angry community.

According to Durant a Pakistani business owner got injured during looting that took place at his store and has been transported to Bloemfontein for urgent medical attention.
 
The municipal spokesperson Mohlomi Mokoatsi says the municipality has ordered the evictions to proceed. According to reports three people have been shot and wounded by rubber bullets. 
 
“Violence in Ladybrand started by unknown people”- Mayor (16:00)
Shack dwellers in Manyatseng township at Ladybrand were warned in time, prior to this morning's evictions. According to Mayor Sello Ntsepe notices were issued last year. He says the people who became violent were mainly not residing in the shacks.

Ntsepe could not say where the displaced people would be accommodated. Chairperson of the Mantsopa Residents Association, Kaye Durant, told OFM News earlier that the evictions, by the Red Ants, started at 06:00 this morning.
 
Residents retaliated and several foreign owned businesses were looted, schools were broken into, two ward councillors had their houses burnt down and several school kids were displaced due to the angry community.

Meanwhile residents have told OFM News' Owen Kock that they know they were occupying the land illegally.
 
 
 

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