The police in Limpopo has noted with concern the escalating public violence which most of them have turned violent in recent past, and such public disorder will not be tolerated.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS Limpopo Maj Gen Benny Ntlemeza has vowed that the police will do all in their lawful powers to maintain peace and order. This follows the latest outbreak of violent public protest in Tickeyline village in Maake just outside Tzaneen. These protest actions follow other similar incidents in Hoedspruit, Zaaiplaas and Ritavi last month where members of the communities blockaded roads with burning tyres and destroy properties.
The protests in Tickeyline erupted on Sunday when members of the community who are expressing their dissatisfaction towards the lack of service delivery and the shortage of water in the area, blocked roads, burnt tyres and pelted members of the Police with stones and other objects. Several spaza shops belonging to foreign nationals have been looted and vandalised during the protests, proving that criminal elements within the communities are taking advantage of the protest actions.
“While we know and understand that members of the community have the right to take part in peaceful protest actions as stipulated in the Constitution, the Police will never sit back and watch criminal elements in the communities take over the protest to create lawlessness and anarchy,” Gen Ntlemeza said. “People also do not have the right to attack the Police and political leaders and they must know that they will be arrested and brought to book to face the full might of the law,” he further stressed.
The warning comes after the Mayor of the local municipality had to be rescued by the Police after the crowd turned violent while she was addressing them. In the process members of the Police were also attacked and pelted with stones. Police had to use rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. A total of eight suspects have been arrested on charges of public violence and will appear in court on Tuesday.
Mej Gen Ntlemeza called for calm in the affected communities and called upon leaders in the communities to act responsibly and not fuel the protest actions to further their own interest. He appealed for calm and normality to return in order for members of the community to return to work and perform their daily duties and activities in a peaceful environment.
A further appeal was made to parents and family members not to take their young children to either take part or be spectators at protest actions. This follows an incident on Monday afternoon where a four-year-old girl was hit in the stomach by a stray rubber bullet. She was taken to hospital where she was treated for severe bruising and discharged.
The situation in the Tickeyline area is still tense and members of the Public Order Policing Unit have maintain visibility are patrolling and monitoring the area to prevent further lawlessness. Several roads in and around villages are still blocked. The R36 road from Tzaneen to Lydenburg is open, but members of the public are advised to avoid this road if possible and rather travel to Lydenburg via Mica and Hoedspruit.
For enquiries please contact:
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi
Cell: 082 373 2408
