While their Trust leaders, the Chief and senior police officials were engaged in an urgent meeting at Phalaborwa Cluster offices in a bid to reopen the gates, residents went on a rampage burning tyres on the R71, Majeje main road and injured one police officer in the face having threw stones at police officers trying to remove burning tyres and other objects on the roads.
At the time of going to print, Namakgale Police Station spokesperson Constable Dineo Sekgotodi informed Phalaborwa Herald, that the R71 road and the Selwane to Giyani roads were closed by angry Majeje residents. Sekgotodi encouraged motorists to use alternative routes as the situation is tense.
Sekgotodi also confirmed on Tuesday that a male person, one of the ten arrested on Monday, died in police custody, but full details cannot be derived from provincial spokesperson Col Ronel Otto.
The Trust Secretary, Petros Mashego on Tuesday morning said the Chief agreed to meet with them on Wednesday at the tribal offices at 11:30.
“We reached a decision that the police should go to the tribal and reopen the gates after our people locked them on Sunday evening in retaliation of the Chief’s failure to respond to our 29 June Memorandum and previous ones. The situation is still tense as our people damaged part of the fence,” he explained.
Namakgale Police Station Spokesperson Constable Dineo Sekgotodi said by Monday evening they had already arrested 10 people and will be charged with public violence.
“One of our officers was hit with a stone on the face and immediately rushed to Maphutha L Malatji Hospital for medical attention. We had to use rubber bullets to disperse the angry mob,” she said.
Our attempts once again to get hold of the Chief were unsuccessful as both his cellphone numbers rang unanswered on Monday and Tuesday.
Chairperson of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, Kgoshi Malesela Dikgale said he heard speculations about the community’s concerns, but his office was yet to receive a formal correspondent from Hlengani Mathebula, Mopani District House of Traditional Affairs official who signed the memorandum.
Last month, Phalaborwa Herald covered an article with over three thousands residents marched to the tribal demanding the immediate removal of Chief Mlungisi Ntsanwisi and the tribal CEO Nick Mabobo accusing them of looting funds meant to develop the area.
“He is staying at Nkowankowa under his Chief, Mhlava and how is he going to lead his people when he is far away from them? We don’t want him to rule us using a remote control. The Chief just comes here and collect the community’s funds and goes to Nkowankowa leaving people suffering,” remarked Lybon Mongwe during the march.
The Trust’s chairperson, Ntiso Maluleke said 400 stands next to Lulekani Stadium were sold for R7 000 each, but only R3 000 was paid at the tribal offices while the rest was banked in a private account at Standard Bank.
