Update 26 November: Residents of Bekkersdal have, to most people’s astonishment, dispursed quitely after handing over their memorandum of grievances to officials at the Westonaria Local Municipality.
Reports about a possibly violent service delivery protest action started filtering into the Herald offices from around 6.30am, and, given recent events in Bekkersdal, all indications were that people should expect trouble to break out.
Bekkersdal residents however, had a surprise up their sleeves, and after handing over their memorandum of grievances to municipal officials and listening to a speech by community leader, Thabang Wesi, returned peacefully to the busses which had brought them into the area, and went home.
This after widespread fears that things could, once again, have gotten out of hand.
Many shops opted to keep their doors closed and the CBD of Westonaria somewhat resembled a ghost town earlier today.
Police were also doing their best to discourage people from entering the Westonaria CBD while traffic officers were directing traffic away from the area.
Westonaria has turned into a ghost town due to another massive service delivery protest by residents of the now infamous Bekkersdal.
Bekkersdal residents in their hundreds have marched to the Westonaria Local Municipality building to hand over a memorandum of demands to Westonaria Executive Mayor, Nonkoliso Tundzi, and, anticipating trouble, shop owners, including the larger retails shops and banks, have closed their doors for the day.
According to one business owner, police has urged residents to stay away from town and shop owners to rather close their doors to ensure the safety of their staff.
Traffic is allegedly being directed away from the area by police and traffic officers and movement within the town is being discouraged.
Herald delivery trucks have been advised to turn around and not risk entering the area to do their deliveries.
A strong police presence is being maintained and helicopters have been spotted circling the area in anticipation of trouble breaking out.
According to Herald reporter, Mbali Mathebula, who is reporting from the scene, the residents are currently calm and no incidents of violence has yet been reported.
“They are singing and chanting outside the municipal building, but thus far I have seen no acts of violence, or any sign that they might become violent,” says Mathebula.
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