By BAKANG MOKOTO
Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality mayor, Sebang Motlhabi lambasted some community members at Utlwanang Township in Christiana for allegedly participating in ‘illegal’ protests. Some community members blocked N12 road that links Bloemhof and Kimberley with burning tyres and debris demanding allocation of stands.
“As the municipality, we would like to condemn the blocking of N12 road and looting of shops that occurred at Utlwanang/ Geluksoord, which was purportedly in connection with the allocation of residential stands.
“We condemn the incidents with the strongest contempt it deserves. As the municipality, we have resolved on 31 January 2022 that deserving residents be allocated the stands accordingly,” Motlhabi said.
He further said the municipal officials were assigned to manage the allocation process, however, some elements with sinister motives (political and otherwise) incited residents to refuse to be allocated the stands, but to rather self-allocate which was chaotic.
Motlhabi added they have attended the scene to address the residents for an amicable resolve to the impasse, however, upon their departure the residents then resorted to looting the businesses mostly operated by foreign nationals and renegaded altogether from the allocation of stands.
“The municipality remains committed to its resolution to allocate stands to the deserving residents in a systematic and verifiable manner. So, we plead for calm and cooperation to afford the allocation to be executed seamlessly.
“Residents are further advised to desist from embarking on illegal / criminal activities which might ignite confrontation with the law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said: “Police have apprehended three men in connection with public violence in Christiana. According to information received, members of the community at Utlwanang Location in Christiana embarked on a protest action and barricaded the N12 road.
“It is alleged the march was started when the protesters did not get the response that they demanded from the mayor and the councillors. They allegedly started burning tyres and blocking roads.”
Funani said allegations further state that more members of the community joined in the protest and they went to tuck shops in Utlwanang Location, where they looted and damaged some of the tuck shops. She said police were called and three suspects between the ages of 18 and 28 were arrested and charged with public violence.
“The accused briefly appeared at the Christiana Magistrate’’ Court on 3 February 2022,” she said.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the incident of public violence and requested members of the community not to resort to violence when they are dissatisfied. Moreover, Kwena also warned the community and said that stolen properties looted from the tuck-shops will be traced and the suspects will be arrested.
The Guardian 