Nine Ginsberg residents appeared in court yesterday after being arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property following a protest which saw police clashing with hundreds of residents, some throwing petrol bombs.
King William’s Town police spokeswoman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said the residents, aged between 20 and 40, appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court yester day, where they were each granted R1000 bail.
Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the stone-throwing and petrol-bombing crowd.
The protest, which began at 4am, is over service delivery, with residents wanting a ward committee elected to assist service delivery.
ANC ward 39 councillor Bongani Dyonase said residents only had themselves to blame after allegedly refusing to accept him and his ward committee following the August 2016 local government elections.
Dyonase – whose ward encompasses Schornville, Rhayi, Ginsberg, Bonke, Kwalini and Ngxwalane – said: “They have just realised after two years what it means to have a committee, because I can’t be everywhere at the same time.”
A Daily Dispatch team visited the area yesterday and saw 50 police officers battling hundreds of residents, mostly young men.
The youth heckled and threw insults followed by missiles, including stones and petrol bombs, at the police for the greater part of the day.
The residents also blockaded the Woodhouse Bridge with burning tyres, uprooted trees and rocks.
“The protesters also damaged police vehicles and a malicious damage to property case was opened for investigation,” said Mawisa.
Another protest by the same group later in the day took place along Cathcart Road, where residents threw stones at cars.
Reporting on the latest situation at dusk yesterday, Mawisa said: “Community members have dispersed now. They have been addressed by a manager from the mayor’s office, who came from East London. He informed the community that there will be elections of ward committee members on Friday.”
Buffalo City spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said BCM had managed to elect a project steering committee after meeting with the community.
“We have given the community a few weeks to come back and present a plan on how the issue of housing will be managed.” —
malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Ginsberg residents in court after violent protest
King William’s Town police spokeswoman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said the residents, aged between 20 and 40, appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court yester day, where they were each granted R1000 bail.
Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the stone-throwing and petrol-bombing crowd.
The protest, which began at 4am, is over service delivery, with residents wanting a ward committee elected to assist service delivery.
ANC ward 39 councillor Bongani Dyonase said residents only had themselves to blame after allegedly refusing to accept him and his ward committee following the August 2016 local government elections.
Dyonase – whose ward encompasses Schornville, Rhayi, Ginsberg, Bonke, Kwalini and Ngxwalane – said: “They have just realised after two years what it means to have a committee, because I can’t be everywhere at the same time.”
A Daily Dispatch team visited the area yesterday and saw 50 police officers battling hundreds of residents, mostly young men.
The youth heckled and threw insults followed by missiles, including stones and petrol bombs, at the police for the greater part of the day.
The residents also blockaded the Woodhouse Bridge with burning tyres, uprooted trees and rocks.
“The protesters also damaged police vehicles and a malicious damage to property case was opened for investigation,” said Mawisa.
Another protest by the same group later in the day took place along Cathcart Road, where residents threw stones at cars.
Reporting on the latest situation at dusk yesterday, Mawisa said: “Community members have dispersed now. They have been addressed by a manager from the mayor’s office, who came from East London. He informed the community that there will be elections of ward committee members on Friday.”
Buffalo City spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said BCM had managed to elect a project steering committee after meeting with the community.
“We have given the community a few weeks to come back and present a plan on how the issue of housing will be managed.” —
malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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