Central SA
Two women arrested in Ventersburg protest─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 09:55 Thu, 09 Mar 2023
Two women have been arrested at Ventersburg in the Free State in connection with the service protest which began late Wednesday afternoon 8 March 2023.
Provincial police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says the two suspects, aged between 28 and 31 years, were arrested earlier Thursday morning by the Welkom Public Order Policing. A 34-year-old male person was arrested for throwing stones at a police officer on Wednesday. The three suspects are charged with public violence and accused of contravening the Road Traffic Act and Criminal Matters Amendment Act. They will soon appear in the Ventersburg Magistrate's Court.
ALSO READ: N1 closed at Ventersburg due to protests
The service delivery protest in question saw the N1 being barricaded by angry residents with stones, rubbish and burning tyres. Thakeng explained it was around 16:00 when residents of Mmamahabane gathered at the stadium to discuss service delivery issues. The residents then demanded the Executive Mayor of Matjhabeng, Councillor Thanduxolo Khalipha, to address them regarding the water outage.
However, nobody arrived to address them. “From the stadium, angry residents went to block the N1 road with rubbish, stones, burning tyres, and trees. The trailer of the Matjhabeng Municipality was burned,” he added.
ALSO READ: Three arrested at Ventersburg protest
On Thursday morning 9 March at about 07:25, the same residents blocked the R70 road – the Ventersburg/Senekal road – with burning tyres. The situation is monitored by the Welkom Public Order Policing and Ventersburg SAPS members under the leadership of the Acting Station Commander of Ventersburg, Warrant Officer Moratei Korope.
It is not the first time residents of Ventersburg take their grievances to the streets. In September 2022, three people have been arrested at service delivery protests.
SAPS spokesperson Peter Kareli at the time said the police arrested a 42-year-old woman and two men, aged 31 and 37. Kareli stated the SAPS pleaded with angry community members to refrain from acts of violence, as it is a transgression of the law. He added that no court date has been set yet for those who have been arrested.
Kareli explained the N1 highway passing Ventersburg, and the R70 from Senekal, remain closed after protesters shut down a part of the country's main highway with rock barricades and burning tyres. Other parts of the road are open, and people are advised to use alternative routes.
This is a developing story.
