The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has learnt with dismay and disbelief the magnitude of the destruction of government properties that took place on Monday, April 16.
The police were called to the crime scene at Finale village near Hoedspruit. Upon arrival they were met by the sight of destruction of properties worth millions of rands.
Preliminary investigations indicate that violence erupted at the Finale village near Hoedspruit when members of the community went on a rampage and attacked the site of a Water Project which contracted under the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The protestors started throwing stones at workers and also at equipment that was there.
One worker was seriously injured and equipment, cars and machinery were severely damaged.
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The total damage includes; 1 bus burnt to ashes and windows smashed on; three bakkies, 1 bus, all the mobile offices, one excavator, one front end loader, one TLB, two Bell’s tippers and four mixer trucks. The oil drum storeroom was also burnt.
All the damaged items belong to the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The estimated damage caused during this incident is about R4 million.
The injured victim was taken to the local clinic for medical treatment.
The situation is now quiet but is still being monitored closely.
The suspects in this matter are still unknown and no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information which can lead to the arrests of the suspects in this matter, may contact Captain Cobra Moriri at 082 573 4773 or the crime stop number 0860010111 or the crime line SMS 32211 or the nearest Police Station.
