Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, tells OFM News that the five people, who are between the ages of 16 and 28, will appear in the Lindley Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, April 16, for public violence. The arrest comes after a group of 300 residents barricaded the R76 road between Steynsrus and Lindley, using road signs, stones, four Jojo tanks and tyres, which were then set alight. He says there was an attempt to burn a disability centre in Matloangtloang, to no avail. The protesters are also reported to have thrown stones at not only passing cars, but residential and business buildings. Thakeng reports members of public order policing are still monitoring the tense situation.

Over 50km outside Steynsrus, a large number of residents marched to the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court on Monday in support of the 53 people who were arrested during last week’s unrest. The case was postponed to April 24 for bail application, with the adults remaining in police custody while five children were released out on a warning.

Both Steynsrus and Kroonstad fall under the Moqhaka Local Municipality. Unrest developed in the municipality over a number of service delivery issues. Moqhaka spokesperson, Dika Kheswa, says he cannot comment on the concerns raised by disgruntled community members at this stage, because a memorandum of demands has not yet been received or processed by the municipality.

OFM News