TRAFFIC on the N1 North between Polokwane and Makhado was brought to a standstill last Wednesday when rioting Botlokwa residents blocked the road.
Residents also went on the rampage against foreign-owned businesses in Botlokwa.
Four residents were arrested by the public order police after they allegedly stormed into foreign-owned businesses where they helped themselves to groceries and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Several residents who spoke to CV said they had decided to resort to public violence in protest against the Machaka tribal authority, whom they alleged was treating them like slaves while spending an alleged R20 000 in levy fees paid by foreign business owners on themselves.
“The chief doesn’t care about local business owners, he gives land to foreigners and ignores us,” they said.
Speaking on behalf of residents and the Economic Freedom Fighters in Botlokwa, Mokgokong Sebolaise told CV they had submitted a memorandum of grievances to the chief and he had torn it up in front of everyone.
“In the memorandum we demanded that foreign business owners should leave and that some indunas in the council should step down.
“There is no development in our area, while the chief is misusing the Botlokwa trust fund. We want to know how much is in the account and what the traditional authority is doing with it,” he said.
“The chief is only paving the way for those with Machaka name to get jobs in shops that are owned by foreigners. If you go to the Botlokwa Hospital, filling stations, and many other places of business, you will find that the Machakas dominate.
“Because the chief doesn’t want to listen to us, we decided to block the N1 and loot the foreigners’ businesses,” Sebolaise said.
Foreign business owner, Yunus Hussein Mohamed, said a mob of more than 200 people stormed his shop. He said they stole groceries and money.
“I can’t say as yet what the monetary value of my loss is,” he said.
The Machaka tribal authority representative, who did not wish to be named, said they would issue a statement in due course.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, said the four suspects appeared in court and were released in R500 bail each. Their next court appearance is on July 29.
“The situation is back to normal,” he said.
