PG Bison bosses and company labourers battled for a third night in a row to douse raging fires which flared up in several of its pine tree plantations.
The blazes started after large groups of youths went on a rampage demanding jobs.
Trucks belonging to the company and passing motorists were stoned, shops closed after they were vandalised and traffic on the R56 between Ugie and Maclear blocked with burning tyres.
Local schools were shut as around 500 young people from neighbouring townships tried their best to avoid heavily armed police officers, bringing the small and usually quiet town to a total shut down.
An Elundini local municipality brickyard and a truck trailer were set alight along with thousands of hectares of pine tree plantations belonging to PG Bison.
The company hired a private security company to protect its offices as a thick pall of smoke engulfed the sky. A helicopter was brought in to try and contain the fires.
Local resident and agronomist Ben Roothman described the scene as “rookerig” .
He said business had been severely affected while his wife, Linda, a teacher at Ugie High School said the school had been closed and matriculants moved to a secret location after receiving threats of violence.
Elliot cluster police spokeswoman Captain Ursula Roelofse denied claims by protesters that police had used live ammunition after 16-year old Melikhaya Mtshontshi was injured in the eye.
Roelofse said 11 people were arrested for public violence.
PG Bison said it was still too early to estimate the value of damage caused.
Company spokesman Themba Siyolo said they were the largest employer in the area, employing just over 400 locals and creating an additional 1900 jobs through small and medium enterprises.
Siyolo, who flew to Gauteng on Thursday evening to meet company bosses and union leaders, said they were very concerned at the situation and were working towards a solution.
“We are committed to working through the relevant structures to assist wherever possible in resolving this matter,” he said, adding they would meet community leaders and youth structures on August 27.
Co-ordinator of the Elundini Community Co-ordinating Forum Mzwandile Mpofu accused PG Bison of failing to keep promises to educate and employ locals.
Instead, people from Mpumalanga and East London were given jobs at the expense of locals he alleged.
Mpofu said the company was demanding matric as a qualification.
“That policy is marginalising the locals. Those jobs do not need highly skilled people. We are saying jobs that do not need specialised skills must be given to locals.”
He said the company failed to heed its corporate social responsibility to develop areas such as Bekela, Land Camp, Robben, Old Location and villages including Ncembu, Lunyaweni, Gqaqhala and even Maclear.
“There is no development, nothing. Roads are not accessible and they are not contributing to local schools such as doing renovations,” said Mpofu.
He said they wanted 2000 youths to be given jobs, bursaries for Grade 12s, learnership opportunities, a trust fund to develop rural areas and an environmental impact assessment study.
“People are getting sick by harmful gasses emitted by the company’s plant,” said Mpofu.
The ANC’s regional secretary in the Joe Gqabi region Loyiso Magqashela condemned the violent protest.
Both parties were expected to meet today.
Job seekers burn plantation
The blazes started after large groups of youths went on a rampage demanding jobs.
Trucks belonging to the company and passing motorists were stoned, shops closed after they were vandalised and traffic on the R56 between Ugie and Maclear blocked with burning tyres.
Local schools were shut as around 500 young people from neighbouring townships tried their best to avoid heavily armed police officers, bringing the small and usually quiet town to a total shut down.
An Elundini local municipality brickyard and a truck trailer were set alight along with thousands of hectares of pine tree plantations belonging to PG Bison.
The company hired a private security company to protect its offices as a thick pall of smoke engulfed the sky. A helicopter was brought in to try and contain the fires.
Local resident and agronomist Ben Roothman described the scene as “rookerig” .
He said business had been severely affected while his wife, Linda, a teacher at Ugie High School said the school had been closed and matriculants moved to a secret location after receiving threats of violence.
Elliot cluster police spokeswoman Captain Ursula Roelofse denied claims by protesters that police had used live ammunition after 16-year old Melikhaya Mtshontshi was injured in the eye.
Roelofse said 11 people were arrested for public violence.
PG Bison said it was still too early to estimate the value of damage caused.
Company spokesman Themba Siyolo said they were the largest employer in the area, employing just over 400 locals and creating an additional 1900 jobs through small and medium enterprises.
Siyolo, who flew to Gauteng on Thursday evening to meet company bosses and union leaders, said they were very concerned at the situation and were working towards a solution.
“We are committed to working through the relevant structures to assist wherever possible in resolving this matter,” he said, adding they would meet community leaders and youth structures on August 27.
Co-ordinator of the Elundini Community Co-ordinating Forum Mzwandile Mpofu accused PG Bison of failing to keep promises to educate and employ locals.
Instead, people from Mpumalanga and East London were given jobs at the expense of locals he alleged.
Mpofu said the company was demanding matric as a qualification.
“That policy is marginalising the locals. Those jobs do not need highly skilled people. We are saying jobs that do not need specialised skills must be given to locals.”
He said the company failed to heed its corporate social responsibility to develop areas such as Bekela, Land Camp, Robben, Old Location and villages including Ncembu, Lunyaweni, Gqaqhala and even Maclear.
“There is no development, nothing. Roads are not accessible and they are not contributing to local schools such as doing renovations,” said Mpofu.
He said they wanted 2000 youths to be given jobs, bursaries for Grade 12s, learnership opportunities, a trust fund to develop rural areas and an environmental impact assessment study.
“People are getting sick by harmful gasses emitted by the company’s plant,” said Mpofu.
The ANC’s regional secretary in the Joe Gqabi region Loyiso Magqashela condemned the violent protest.
Both parties were expected to meet today.
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