Dramatic scenes played out on the R346 between Potsdam and Berlin yesterday when hundreds of angry residents embarked on a violent service delivery protest, blocking the road with burning tyres and causing traffic congestion.
Police fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd and eight people were arrested during the clash with the police.
The Daily Dispatch was on the scene and heard a crowd shouting that they were going to burn a councillor’s house down. Police moved in and arrested two protesters.
Police spokesman, Captain Mluleki Mbi said a woman and a man, both aged 23, were arrested and charged after they allegedly threw stones at ANC Ward 24 councillor Zameka Kodwa-Gajula’s house, damaging her windows.
“All the arrested will appear before the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Mbi.
The protest, which started at 5am yesterday, saw traffic authorities having to warn motorists to use alternative routes.
Kodwa-Gajula, who has served two terms as an ANC councillor in charge of the undeveloped Ikhwezi Village, is under fire for not working to bring roads, water and housing to the area.
The Dispatch went to Kodwa-Gajula’s home after setting up an interview by phone in the morning. Three unknown women at the house shouted at the Dispatch to “f*** off!”
Her phone rang unanswered for the rest of the day.
The Dispatch saw the driver of a municipal truck, which was carrying garden rubbish and rubble, being told by the crowd to dump his load on the road as fuel for their fires, but he refused. He then tried to do a U-turn, but his truck got stuck in a ditch.
He jumped out and ran for his life while the angry crowd shouted: “Let’s burn him!”
Hundreds of residents, who rely on taxis to get to work, struggled for hours to get transport as cars were rerouted to other roads.
Last Thursday, community leader Mncedisi Mdingi told the Dispatch that Ikhwezi, also known as Gwiqi, or Ikhwezi Block, has never had electricity, water or formal houses since it was established 30 years ago.
Protester Onela Mangxola, 25, said: “I started school in 1998 and matriculated in 2008 without ever wearing ironed clothes or taking a warm shower. This area is really backwards and has been hampered by corruption.”
Nosiphiwo Ntabeni, 30, said: “Our people were shot like animals today by the police for fighting for their rights.”
Jwara Mlungisi, 52, said: “This is our councillor’s second term. She will be finishing 10 years but there is not a single thing that she has done for us.” — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Violent clashes erupt in Potsdam
Police fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd and eight people were arrested during the clash with the police.
The Daily Dispatch was on the scene and heard a crowd shouting that they were going to burn a councillor’s house down. Police moved in and arrested two protesters.
Police spokesman, Captain Mluleki Mbi said a woman and a man, both aged 23, were arrested and charged after they allegedly threw stones at ANC Ward 24 councillor Zameka Kodwa-Gajula’s house, damaging her windows.
“All the arrested will appear before the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Mbi.
The protest, which started at 5am yesterday, saw traffic authorities having to warn motorists to use alternative routes.
Kodwa-Gajula, who has served two terms as an ANC councillor in charge of the undeveloped Ikhwezi Village, is under fire for not working to bring roads, water and housing to the area.
The Dispatch went to Kodwa-Gajula’s home after setting up an interview by phone in the morning. Three unknown women at the house shouted at the Dispatch to “f*** off!”
Her phone rang unanswered for the rest of the day.
The Dispatch saw the driver of a municipal truck, which was carrying garden rubbish and rubble, being told by the crowd to dump his load on the road as fuel for their fires, but he refused. He then tried to do a U-turn, but his truck got stuck in a ditch.
He jumped out and ran for his life while the angry crowd shouted: “Let’s burn him!”
Hundreds of residents, who rely on taxis to get to work, struggled for hours to get transport as cars were rerouted to other roads.
Last Thursday, community leader Mncedisi Mdingi told the Dispatch that Ikhwezi, also known as Gwiqi, or Ikhwezi Block, has never had electricity, water or formal houses since it was established 30 years ago.
Protester Onela Mangxola, 25, said: “I started school in 1998 and matriculated in 2008 without ever wearing ironed clothes or taking a warm shower. This area is really backwards and has been hampered by corruption.”
Nosiphiwo Ntabeni, 30, said: “Our people were shot like animals today by the police for fighting for their rights.”
Jwara Mlungisi, 52, said: “This is our councillor’s second term. She will be finishing 10 years but there is not a single thing that she has done for us.” — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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