Media Statement from North West Media Centre
Corporate Communication
South African Police Service

08 April 2014

The Boitumelong community unrest in Bloemhof went out of control yesterday when protesting community members, became violent, unruly and highly infested with criminal activities and the disregard of the rule of law. The protest started on Wednesday, 02 April 2014 and as an illegal protest, where the community started barricading the roads with burning tyres and disturbed public disorder.

The situation led to the Police arresting some of the protesters. The situation alleviated from Thursday, 03 April 2014 to the weekend. Disruptions occurred again on Monday, 7 April 2014 when protestors barricaded roads leading to Boitumelong and disrupted schools in the area. Protesters started becoming unruly and some of them moved to N12 road and started barricading the N12 and stoned vehicles that were passing by. The unruly behaviour of the community led to burning down of a number of houses belonging to the Mayor, two officials of the municipality, two police officers , and the neighbour to the mayor who is allegedly a relative to the mayor. The community hall in Boitumelong Township was also set alight.

Two Police Officials sustained injuries after they were pelted with stones by the community and were taken to Christiana Hospital for medical treatment yesterday. One Police Officer lost his finger in the process; his right hand thumb was broken as a result of this attack. The turmoil also led to the community burning a police Nyala with a petrol bomb which was stuck in the area because of engine problems, but the engine later worked. The Police Officers inside the Nyala managed to escape unharmed.

The Police Nyala sustained fire damages only on the outside. More than 100 suspects have been arrested since Wednesday, 03 April 2014 to date as a result of the ongoing public violence. Yesterday 97 of suspects appeared before Bloemhof Magistrates' Court and they were charged with public violence and malicious damage to property. They remain in custody and their matter will be heard before the same court on 11 April 2014 for bail application.

Last night, 07 April 2014 the protesters moved into Cavandale Township, where during the night they burnt another house belonging to a municipal councillor, and one belonging to a municipal clerk and protestors also took their illegal action to the N12, next to Boitumelong where they attacked and pelted vehicles with stones. Trucks were stoned and got stuck on the barricades. Two of the trucks had their horses (heads) burnt, whilst the drivers were unharmed,

The other truck driver lost control of his truck and it overturned and ended on the side of the road. The N12 has been closed from the side of Christiana to the side of Schweizer Reneke and traffic has been diverted until the road is completely cleared. As a result of these incidents further 37 suspects were arrested and charged with Arson, Malicious Damage to Property, Assault GBH and for the violation of Road Traffic Act.

Early this morning 08 April 2014, a back room of a house belonging to a Police Officer was targeted and burnt partially by protesters.

The situation is currently tense and volatile in the area. Police are closely monitoring the situation, and will continue effecting arrests on those who are breaking the law. The North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo has condemned the unruly violent actions by protestors. "The right to protest is a right to all citizens of South Africa, damage to property, violation of the laws of the Republic assaults and treat to human life shall not be tolerated. The Police will act on criminality" said Lieutenant General Mbombo. The Provincial Commissioner further called on Boitumelong community members to respect the rule of law and exercise their constitutional right to strike within the confines of the law. She made a commitment to the affected people as a result of criminality that "those implicated in the burning and causing damage to property and threatened people's lives will be found and arrested". She said.

Members of Public Order Policing have been deployed in the area and they will make sure that unruly elements are not tolerated and those who continue to instigate criminal activities will face the full might of the law.

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Media Enquiries:

Brigadier Thulane Ngubane
North West Province SAPS Spokesperson
Mobile: 082 372 4511