Provincial police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, says at around midday disgruntled residents barricaded the ZR Mahabane Road, which passes by the Masilo Township, with burning tyres. 

A second group of residents threw refuse material in the Masilo township. Mbambo says schooling has been disrupted and traffic in the area is now also affected. She says police are yet to contain the situation. Theunissen is about 35km away from the embattled town of Winburg, which has been rocked by unrest of late. Both towns fall under the financially burdened Masilonyana Local Municipality.

On Monday, the OFM News team was in Makeleketla township in Winburg and report that those hardest hit by the sporadic protests are owners of small businesses in the area. SU supermarket owner, Rubel Islam, told OFM News that since last week Friday, at least 13 businesses – mostly owned by foreign nationals - have been looted and damaged. He says during the looting, stock estimated to the value of R2 million was stolen from the 13 different businesses. He bemoans the lack of security around their businesses. Islam has made a plea to the government to ensure their businesses are protected during the protests.

OFM News