Violence in the Bizana area over sand mining rights continued on Friday night.
Police arrested nine people from the Xolobeni area after a late-night incident in which solar panels on houses belonging to people in the pro-mining faction were damaged.
Mbizana police spokesman Captain Mlungisi Matidane confirmed this, saying the violence was linked to the proposed mining in the area.
“We can confirm that nine people between the ages of 20 and 40 were arrested after houses were attacked on Friday night. Also, solar panels were damaged, allegedly by the same group,” he said.
Yesterday Amadiba Crisis Committee (AMC) leader Mzamo Dlamini said residents were firm in their opposition to mining in their community.
“The arrested people are those who are against this mining. The solar panels that were damaged belong to the people who support the mining and people were angry with that,” said Dlamini.
He said the arrested people were released on Saturday after their lawyer intervened. “We called our lawyer who released them but they are expected to appear in court on Monday,” he said.
For nearly two decades, residents have been at each other’s throats over a proposal to mine the titanium-rich red sand on the coastline.
The AMC’s resistance to the mining project is backed by human rights attorney Richard Spoor and the Legal Resource Centre.
Last week the Dispatch visited Xolobeni, where residents complained that not all would benefit from the project. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Nine arrested after strife over Bizana sand mining rights
Police arrested nine people from the Xolobeni area after a late-night incident in which solar panels on houses belonging to people in the pro-mining faction were damaged.
Mbizana police spokesman Captain Mlungisi Matidane confirmed this, saying the violence was linked to the proposed mining in the area.
“We can confirm that nine people between the ages of 20 and 40 were arrested after houses were attacked on Friday night. Also, solar panels were damaged, allegedly by the same group,” he said.
Yesterday Amadiba Crisis Committee (AMC) leader Mzamo Dlamini said residents were firm in their opposition to mining in their community.
“The arrested people are those who are against this mining. The solar panels that were damaged belong to the people who support the mining and people were angry with that,” said Dlamini.
He said the arrested people were released on Saturday after their lawyer intervened. “We called our lawyer who released them but they are expected to appear in court on Monday,” he said.
For nearly two decades, residents have been at each other’s throats over a proposal to mine the titanium-rich red sand on the coastline.
The AMC’s resistance to the mining project is backed by human rights attorney Richard Spoor and the Legal Resource Centre.
Last week the Dispatch visited Xolobeni, where residents complained that not all would benefit from the project. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos