This is according to a reliable source in the area, who revealed to OFM News that the barricading of roads and torching of a bus depot at the Madibeng Local Municipality on Monday were, in fact, the veiled calls for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to return to the ANC in the province's party structures.

While service delivery is an issue at the ailing municipality, what the people say they really want is for Mahumapelo to return so that these and other issues at the municipality may be addressed and ultimately resolved.

Among the demands protesters made yesterday was that the current provincial task team be dissolved and that Mahumapelo must be re-elected into current structures. It remains unknown at this point what exactly triggered these protests, which are now calling for the disgraced former Premier to return to the party in the province. It is common knowledge, however, that the municipality is among the worst run in the province and country as it was implicated in last year's Venda Mutual Bank saga, where it invested over R31 million of money meant to go to service delivery.

OFM News could not reach the ANC in the province's spokesperson, Kabelo Mataboge, for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, police spokesperson in the area, Amanda Funani, confirmed that nine people were arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property for the torching of the buses. She said the suspects will appear on Wednesday at the Brits Local Magistrate's Court.

OFM News