MALAMULELE – THE situation in Malamulele had moved from bad to worse with some groups of young people using the chaos to make a quick buck.
This followed after the recent announcement by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) that Malamulele would not be given their own municipality as yet.
The youngsters were organised into groups of 15 to 20 and placed around all the major travelling roads in the Malamulele area. They stopped vehicles that were not from the area and demanded payment in return for being allowed to pass.
David Khumalo from Polokwane told CV about his experience.
“On our trip to Xihosani village last week, we met these youths staging a roadblock where people were asked to pay some fees which ranged from R20 to R50, depending on the type of vehicle they drove, before they were allowed to pass.
“If your car looked fancy you had to pay more, because you were assumed to be rich,” he explained.
He said local motorists were allowed to pass free of charge as long as they could prove that they lived in the area.
“The situation is so terrifying that you feel as if you’re in some lawless African country when you get stopped by these youths,” Grace Mashele, another victim, said.
Mashele was on her way to visit a relative near Mudavula village when she was stopped.
Asked if the police were aware of the illegal roadblocks, provincial police spokesperson Col Ronél Otto said they were.
“We received information about such roadblocks and police officials have been dispatched to these areas to ensure smooth travelling,” she said.
Malamulele residents meet with minister
Malamulele schools burn as own muni is denied
Protests at Malamulele: Police keep watch
