BY Obakeng Maje

The Police in Mogwase have opened a case of public violence, malicious damage to property and Arson, following the march that started from the Mogwase sports ground.

This happens to be a killomitre away from the Bakgatla ba Kgafela Tribal Authority (BBKTA) offices. According to the information received, the community of Bakgatla ba Kgafela in Moruleng was duly awaiting feedback from the BBKTA authorities.

This follow up meeting was due to the memorandum handed on the 24 May 2012, stating their complaints.

It is alleged that the leaders of the march refused to be the only receivers of the feedback from Bakgatla tribal authority. They wanted everyone to march to BBKTA and hear the response for themselves. In their memorandum to the tribal authority the community demanded that the Authority does something about them being hired at the Pilansburg Mines which is near Mothlabe village and given first preference as the local people.

“They are also not happy with running of the tribal Authority. It is also alleged that the Bakgatla Authority is a share owner in the mine. Rustenburg POP addressed the community warning them that it would be an illegal march. However a group of strong 1000 Bakgatla protesters gathered and forcefully marched” Brigadier Ngubane said.

The situation eventually spiraled out of control and led to the arrest of 5 males and 10 females who participated in the illegal march from the sports ground to BBKTA offices.

This happened around 16:00 today (5 June 2012).  At about 19:00 things got more intense as the car of a passer-by was damaged and a shop belonging someone working at the BBKTA office who happens to be a relative of the chief were set alight.  More over the roads between Lesetlheng and legkraal has been barricaded.

However the police are doing their best to control the situation., More arrests are expected.

Boitekong: Another unrest situation also started in the area of Boitekong at about 6h30 this afternoon where residents are on a rampage demanding that they also be employed at the local mines as the area is surrounded by the different Mining companies.

Residents barricaded the road between Mogwase and Rustenburg and many other roads with burning tyres and stones. At about 9h30, at shaft 16 and 17 of Impala Mine they community pelted mine workers vehicles who were hard at work underground at the time.

The mob has grown as we go deeper in the winter knight from 1000 people to 2500,moving around the village causing more havoc in Boitekong. Rustenburg Police are still monitoring the situation trying to protect people’s property.

The North West, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General, Zukiswa Mbombo, raised concerned over the never ending public violence in the Rustenburg and the province in general. She said these unrests detract her police forces from focusing on fighting crime and fighting criminals that are terrorising our communities on daily basis. This is a big concern as she wished to see one day these riots coming to an end. “Normal Policing is being compromised as we have to shift Police officers from other policing areas”.