NELSPRUIT – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga Major General Adv Meshack Nogwanya, condemns the spate of violence that erupted in Witbank.
The condemnation comes on the wake of an alleged unbecoming behaviour by some members of the community from the Old Coronation in Witbank.
The community embarked into an illegal protest today, January 26, complaining about unemployment in the newly constructed Kusile Power Station.
Reports revealed the during the protest, some members of the community who took part in the protest, looted two shops belonging to foreign nationals and burnt one of them which was operating in a container.
In the midst of their anger which was directed to Kusile, the community started to divert their focus to the Local Municipality now complaining about service delivery.
They then marched to the offices of Emalaheni to meet with the officials. Police had to be called in to monitor the situation as the marchers started to harass hawkers and even looting their belongings.
The police managed to force them back to their area before more damage could be done.
“It is clear that within those who participated in the march, there was an element of hooliganism. As the police, we will not tolerate lawlessness whether there is concern regarding jobs or services that cannot be a vehicle to commit crime.
The community should know that if they loot or embark into an illegal march, the law will act harshly against them,” warned Major General Nogwanya.
