By Obakeng Maje
Setlagole-In order to bring the situation under control and restore order, the police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades on Thursday at around 10:00 to disperse a crowd of approximately 400 hundred people.

This is after the crowd gathered illegally and blocked N18 between Vryburg and Mahikeng with burning tyres at approximately 03:00, thus affecting the free flow of traffic. 

“The community allegedly barricaded the road and demanded to be given feedback by the Mayor of Ratlou Local Municipality on issues pertaining to the memorandum they handed on 14 February 2014. They were allegedly expecting to get feedback on Wednesday, and that did not happen” Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said.

In the process of dispersal, 20 persons, I.e 9 females and 11 males with ages still to be determined, were arrested. 

“According to the information available at this stage, unconfirmed number of shops owned by foreign nationals were also looted. That led to arrest of 7, I.e 4 females and 3 males for possession of suspected stolen goods” Ngubane said.

It was also reported that attempt was made to set alight the house of the Mayor, but the police intervened and only windowpanes were damaged after being pelted with stones by protesters.   

All suspects are expected to appear in Atamelang Magistrates’ Court soon for Public Violence, Possession of suspected stolen goods, business robbery and Contravention of Road Traffic Act. 

The leadership of the protesters or concerned community members are urged to ensure that they behave properly and refrain from criminal activities like looting of shops.

“The community must ensure that they expose criminal elements who hide themselves behind legitimate service delivery concerns by committing crime” concludes Ngubane. 

The police are still monitoring the situation.-TDN
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_