LIMPOPO – “I know that police were using rubber bullets to disperse the crowd in Vuwani, not live rounds.”
These are the words from the spokesperson for the Vuwani Police, WO Elijah Malatjie after it was alleged that a 25-year-old Pro-Makhado man was shot in the leg by the public order police with live bullet during the demarcation clash at Vuwani on Monday.
He further said that he could not confirm nor deny the allegations about the shooting but if people have proof, they are at liberty to open a case.
Pro-Makhado group response to incident
Spokesperson for the Pro-Makhado group, Arnold Mulaudzi, said it was a peaceful march and people were unarmed but police provoked them by firing rubber bullets. He added some police were using live-rounds. “This is barbaric because they injured a young man who is now getting treatment at the Elim Hospital. I can’t promise if the protest will come to an end. We need President Jacob Zuma to come here and address us.”
Rioters were protesting against the announcement by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) on radio that Vuwani, Malamulale and the surrounding area will fall under a new municipality to be formed.
They broke in at Nuco Meat and looted all the meat before proceeding to the Talifhani Bar Lounge where they also looted.
They also attempted to break in the NTK, but failed to loot as public order police dispersed them with rubber bullets.
Meanwhile school children also failed to write trial examinations as there are no public transport operating in the area and schools are closed due to riots.
Angry members of the communities said they sent their objection to the MDB at the beginning of August and instead the Chairperson, Jane Thupana, decided to announce the outcome on radio rather than coming back to them or inviting them to her Pretoria office. Community members claim the MDB undermines them and therefore they are still planning to also petrol bomb the shops and motorists.
WO Malatjie confirmed that rioters broke in at Nuco Meat and looted. They proceeded to Talifhani Bar Lounge where they also looted. “Police dispersed them when they were breaking into NTK and they were about to loot maize meal.
“Two cars were damaged during the night and one was set alight in the policing area that falls under Malamulele. On Monday night rioters broke in the hardware dealers and looted.
“During the last riots, protesters stole a lot of bicycles from a Indian businessman, 12 kg mealie meal from Spar, nappies and clothes from PEP store, ” said Malatjie.
Demarcation Board decision
MDB’s Chairperson, Jane Thupana, confirmed she received proposals in terms of section 22(2) of the Municipal Demarcation Act from the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan. He requested the board to consider the determination and re-determination of boundaries of certain municipalities with a view to make them more sustainable and financially viable. She said the proposals constituted 34 cases affecting 90 municipalities throughout the country, with the exception of the Western Cape.
“A number of submissions were received and after considering them, the board decided as early as March 2015 not to proceed with 13 of the cases as they were considered to require more detailed investigations and could not be concluded before the 2016 local elections.
“In order to further facilitate public participation in the process, the board went beyond the requirements set out in the Demarcation Act to conduct public meetings in the affected areas.
“On 23 June 2015, the board met and considered all inputs from the public reports on the investigations carried out by the MDB and other relevant data sources. As required by legislation, the board further tested all cases against the demarcation criteria and resolved to re-determine 12 cases.
“Our final decision is to disestablish Mutale with its portions incorporated into areas of Musina and Thulamela municipalities; establish a new municipality comprising of portions of Makhado and Thulamela municipalities; amalgamate Fetagomo and Greater Tubatse local municipalities into one municipal area; Modimolle and Mookgopong; and disestablish Aganang municipality with its portions incorporated into areas of Polokwane, Molemole and Blouberg municipalities.
“It is the intention of the board to conclude any outstanding matters with the view to hand over the final batch of wards to the IEC by no later than 30 November 2015,” added Thupana.
Read more:
Vuwani ‘shutdown’: cops shoot and injure protester
Vuwani ANCYL join the fight for a new muni
Total shutdown in Vuwani due to protests
