Service delivery protests erupt in eMalahleni and Mbombela
During this particular protest, Pick n Pay, Pep Stores and three foreign national owned shops were set alight.
Mpumalanga woke up to a number of service delivery protests in major towns and townships this week.
The biggest protest that shook the whole country took place in eMalahleni on Monday November 7, which saw major retailers set alight and matric exams disrupted.
The eMalahleni residents took to the streets early on Monday morning after they had been without electricity and water for 14 days, and blocked all major roads in all extensions.
ALSO READ: eMalahleni riots lead to woman’s death and looting at shopping centre
During this particular protest, several shops, including Pick n Pay, Pep Stores and three foreign national owned shops, were set alight by the angry community members.
As a results of this protest, matric learners had to miss their exams, which had been scheduled for Monday.
Fortunately, though, the national Department of Education said these learners would be afforded time to write the paper they missed due to the protest.
“We are currently in a meeting deliberating on this issue, but I can assure you and the affected learners that they will be given another date to write the paper. Fortunately, we have a back-up paper different from the one they were all scheduled to write on Monday. But yes, they will get another chance,” said the department’s spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga.
ALSO READ: Blessings Primary School in Mbombela bids farewell to Grade Sevens
The Mpumalanga SAPS has since confirmed that one person was certified dead after being shot during the protest.
“We are not yet certain who shot the 50-year-old woman, however, an immediate investigation is under way, which will look into the allegations that the victim as well as two others who had reportedly sustained some injuries, were shot by a member or members of the police,” said the provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli.
Mdhluli said a case of public violence has been opened, and so far two people had been arrested.
Tuesday morning saw Mataffin community members within the City of Mbombela also taking to the streets, protesting for electricity. They alleged that they had been without electricity for the past four days.
Again, learners could not get to school.
The DA and the EFF have since both appealed for calm, especially in eMalahleni.
