BY Obakeng Maje

BOITEKONG(near Rustenburg): On Sunday, 20 May 2012,  protesters in Sunrise Park, Boitekong near Rustenburg embarked on violent protests. 

It is alleged that at about 21:00, a group of about 150 people started with an illegal gathering. Police were immediately informed about the situation and members responded to the complaint accordingly.

Allegedly this group of protesters were residents of an informal settlement called Dikhibidung, near Sunrise Park, and it was not clear what they were unhappy about as they did not want to engage in any conversations.  At about 02:00 on Monday, 21 May 2012, protesters attempted to set alight the local clinic, but the Police were there just on time and managed to remove a burning tyre that was placed inside the clinic.

Several window panes as well as the entry glass doors of the clinic were damaged when protesters threw stones at them. Immediately after attempting to set the clinic alight, protesters then proceeded to foreign nationals’ shops, 8 shops were reported to have been looted.

Police were on the scene and managed to disperse some of the protestors, but they kept on re-grouping.

“Today, Monday, 2012-05-21, the protesters set 3 dirt road scrapers  and one caravan alight. Allegedly this property belongs to a construction company, that was building roads in the area” Warrant Officer Tselanyane said.

Presently there are about 3000 protestors gathered and barricading the roads and throwing stones at the Police. Members of Bafokeng Public Order Policing are currently monitoring the situation.  

The Provincial Commissioner of the North West Province, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo would like to urge the community to not take the law into their own hands and warned that disruptive actions will not be tolerated in Boitekong.