North West Premier Thandi Modise has called on communities to exercise their right to protest within the framework of the law to avoid violent confrontation with police.
Premier Modise’s appeal follows illegal protests that resulted in police firing rubber bullets to disperse a protest in Mmaditlokwe informal settlement near Marikana on Tuesday.
“Communities that might have genuine concerns should not allow themselves be misled to participate in illegal marches as these always result in dire consequences for those involved,” Modise said.
She called on Madibeng Local Municipality to urgently investigate the allegations raised by the community.
According to police, the community members blockaded roads with burning tyres and rubble in protest against apparent and recent blasts at the nearby Tharisa mine.
Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said that the protest did not appear to be related to the on-going platinum strike, but was related to complaints against a nearby chrome mine.
"The community claimed that blasting at the mine damaged their homes and affected their children's health,” Ngubane said.
Ngubane said that police tried to reason with the protesters, but they ignored appeals to disperse.
"In order to bring calm, police were forced to use rubber bullets to disperse the unruly crowd," he said.
Ngubane said that the fourteen women and two men who were arrested would appear in the Marikana Magistrate's Court soon to face charges of public violence.
He said that no injuries were reported and police would continue to monitor the situation.
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