Police spokesperson, Phumelelo Dhlamini, confirms so far they have only received reports of two vehicles being stoned.

One of those vehicles belongs to a Johannesburg-based man who has asked to be only referred to as “John”. He tells OFM News he was making his way to Ladybrand for a meeting this morning when he heard initial reports of protest action via radio between Marquard and Senekal. He decided to travel from the Winburg direction instead to avoid the unrest. As he approached the town, he was met by frustrated and angry residents who began hurling stones in his direction, eventually hitting his back window, as he attempted to flee the chaos. Dhlamini issues a stern warning to motorists in that area. “We are requesting all the motorists to avoid all roads leading to Marquard. People driving from Winburg, Senekal and Clocolan towards Marquard, should not go,” he warns. No arrests have been reported as yet.

Marquard joins Kroonstad, Welkom and Steynsrus in the Free State, as towns where unrest flared, albeit briefly in some instances, over the last week. Today sixteen protesters are appearing before the Kroonstad and Lindley Magistrate’s Courts respectively, while the situation in the towns which fall under the Moqhaka Local Municipality, continues to stabilise.

The eleven people appearing before the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court were arrested on Monday, April 15, after they were angered by the postponement of the case involving 53 of their fellow arrested protesters to April 24 for bail application. Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, told OFM News previously the protesters will appear on a public violence charge.

Over in Lindley, the Steynrus five who were arrested on Monday will make their re-appearance in the Local Magistrate’s Court. They were part of protests in which the R76 road between Steynsrus and Lindley was barricaded using road signs, stones, four Jojo tanks and tyres, which were then set alight. There was also an unsuccessful attempt to burn a disability centre in Matloangtloang.

OFM News