Renewed unrest in Lim hotspots

Simmering turmoil at Ga-Rena Rental Village in Ladanna the past two days escalated this morning as a group of residents barricaded access gates to the premises by setting fire to tyres and building material as well as mobile containers on the property in apparent discontent over a longstanding rental battle. In the meantime it was …

March 4, 2016

1 minute read

A boy on his dad’s arm on his way to school this morning.

The operator of a front-end loader removes burning rubble at the entrance to Ga-Rena Rental Village in Ladanna last night.

Simmering turmoil at Ga-Rena Rental Village in Ladanna the past two days escalated this morning as a group of residents barricaded access gates to the premises by setting fire to tyres and building material as well as mobile containers on the property in apparent discontent over a longstanding rental battle.
In the meantime it was learnt that a strong Police presence is being maintained at Vuwani in the Vhembe District after unrest yet again commenced last night. Residents were still protesting against their inclusion in the newly formed Malamulele Municipality, according to Provincial Police spokesperson Ronel Otto.
Photos of kids leaving for school against the backdrop of renewed discord at Ga-Rena Rental Village tell the story of an extended row that erupted towards the end of the last year when Police had to contain a mass of angry residents after a night of strife.
Unrest at Ga-Rena Rental Village reportedly started again two nights ago with stones allegedly being hurled at passing vehicles and the road in front of the development blockaded with burning objects. Early yesterday evening a group of residents allegedly set a shack on the premises on fire and barricaded the road with concrete blocks and burning rubbish. It called for a re-deployment of Police, members of the Community Policing Forum in the area, emergency workers and officials of Polokwane Municipality.
The violent expression of emotions is seemingly related to discontent with the fact that concerns raised with Polokwane Executive Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng and Premier Stan Mathabatha in the past had not been addressed as yet.

The entrance to Ga-Rena Rental Village at around noon today.

According to the latest update the N11 through Mahwelereng outside Mokopane has been blocked by residents of Polar Park airing grievances about a lack of water in the area. Rocks and three 2 000-litre water storage tanks have been used to barricade the road, said Otto. Travelers to Botswana via Groblersbrug borderpost were advised to avoid the area and make use of alternative routes.