Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says the group was arrested after they torched vehicles belonging to the Moqhaka Local Municipality and a post office. The group was up in arms over service delivery issues, alleging they are on the receiving end of a municipality that fails to prioritise its residents. They further alleged that the municipality does not appoint locals in key projects and that they still grapple to access basic services such as water, coupled with tender irregularities and mismanagement of funds, while the level of unemployment in the area remains high.

Thakeng says the group also blocked streets with stones and burning tyres. He in a statement confirmed that members of Public Order Policing from Bloemfontein, Parys, Sasolburg and Welkom then managed to arrest more than sixty people for public violence. He says the police are closely monitoring the situation in the area as it remains tense.

Meanwhile, the Moqhaka Local Municipality called for calm and urged community members who allege there are tender irregularities and mismanagement of funds by the municipality to approach law enforcement agencies.

Municipal spokesperson, Dika Kheswa, earlier told OFM News that they were unsure why Kroonstad residents were protesting as the municipality has been providing services such as water, electricity, refuse removal, and road infrastructure maintenance in all its areas.

He appealed to those with allegations of maladministration and corruption to rather come forward with proof and lay charges.

OFM News