Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News the group is being charged with public violence and will appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court within 48 hours. 

The group forms part of protesters that barricaded and blocked George Lubbe, Moshoeshoe, Taelo Moloisiwa, and Dr Belcher Roads, amongst others, in the metro with burning tyres, rocks, and refuse material on Sunday evening ahead of the planned shutdown. 

Motorists and commuters in Bloemfontein, Dewetsdorp, Wepener, Thaba ’Nchu, and Botshabelo are urged to exercise caution and be vigilant as they drive to work this morning.

Police are on the ground.

Moshoeshoe Road in Bloemfontein, a road that on a normal day would be buzzing with traffic as parents take their children to local schools, is very quiet as motorists are being intimidated to turn back and some are using smaller streets to try and get to their respective destinations.

The arrests come after police assured residents of the Mangaung metro that lawlessness and traffic disruptions will not be tolerated despite people having the right to demonstrate. The shutdown is being led by a group calling itself the Mangaung Community Concern. The group, spearheaded by Themba Zweni and Lily Tsoeu, is calling for the disbandment of the Mangaung Metro Council for its failure to steer the metro in the direction of progress following its placement under administration and ongoing failure to allegedly render services or complete projects.

”Bloemfontein was once the City of Roses but today it’s the Capital of Potholes. We can’t open our windows as the stench from raw sewage running in our streets is unbearable and we are no longer certain as to how long are we going to have water as the Municipality owes Bloem Water,” says the group. 

They say Mangaung is rudderless following the ousting of former Mayor Olly Mlamleli and the situation appears to be worsening.

OFM News