By OBAKENG MAJE
Twenty-four suspects are set to appear at Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for public violence and malicious damage to property. This comes after community members at Blydeville, near Lichtenburg embarked on a service delivery protest that turned violent on 19 January 2023.
Two trucks were allegedly torched by the protesters demanding water.
The North West police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh said: “The police arrested 24 suspects in connection with public violence and other crimes relating to incidents reported on 19 January 2023, in which two trucks were torched, then property looted and damaged.
“A total of 12 people between the ages of 21 and 32 were arrested and charged for public violence and malicious damage to property. They appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on 23 January 2023 and were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on 31 January 2023.”
Myburgh further said, nine more cases of which 12 accused persons aged between 19 and 34, were found in possession of the presumably stolen property and theft, are under still investigation. She added the police confiscated more than 50 bags of cement amongst others including various steel poles.
“All nine accused appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court. Three of the suspects paid admission of guilt fines of R800, R400, and R1000 respectively. All other remaining accused were remanded in custody and will appear in court on 31 January 2023,” said Myburgh.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena condemned the public violence incidents and asked members of the community to raise their dissatisfaction in a peaceful and lawful manner.
Moreover, Kwena warned that those who transgressed the law will be traced and arrested.
Meanwhile, one of the residents, Thabiso Molale (42) said, they continue to live in squalor, while the municipality fails to deliver basic services such as clean and drinkable water.
“It has been over two years since we experience a lack of water provision. I do not want to talk about other basic services like electricity, accessible roads, refuse collection, and sewage disposal.
“We have been complaining as residents over the years, but nothing is happening. Also, our youths continue to be affected by socio-economic challenges such as drug and alcohol abuse, high rate of unemployment including teenage pregnancy, while our government turns a blind eye,” Molale said.
Another resident, Ben Entshang shared the same sentiments. Entshang said they are sick and tired because of their living conditions.
“We have elderly people who stay alone here and their safety is compromised. There is no provision for clean and drinkable water including load-shedding.
“People are fed-up because of empty promises. So, we decided to take our grievances to the streets because this is the only language our government understands. We cannot even use toilets because there is no water to flush feaces,” he said.
According to Entshang, they are now forced to go to the nearest bushes to relieve themselves or go to the nearest petrol stations to use the toilets there.
However, the executive mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Khumalo Molefe squashed allegations that the residents have embarked on protests because of the lack of provision of water.
Molefe said the protests in Ditsobotla are not water-related.
“We have not received any complaints about the lack of water in Blydeville. Apparently, the protests in the area emanate from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the Afri-Sam and the Ditsobotla Local Municipality signed regarding community projects.
“It is alleged that the Afri-Sam has not fulfilled its promises to hire locals. Instead, the company allegedly continues to appoint people from outside, hence protests,” he said.
Molefe said, they condemn the torching of trucks and barricading of roads because that alone is a violation of constitutional rights. He calls on law enforcement agencies to harshly deal with perpetrators because no one has any right to prohibit anyone to go anywhere in South Africa.
The Guardian 