Situation in Vuwani calm after Zuma no show
President Jacob Zuma was expected to address residents in Vuwani on Sunday
LIMPOPO – Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the situation in Vuwani remained calm overnight, as police continued patrolling the area.
Four people, aged between 18 and 31-years-old, were arrested for public violence after six vehicles, one of them belonging to the police, were damaged.
This happened immediately after the adjournment of a community gathering at Nandoni Sports Field in Vuwani on Sunday (7 May), where President Jacob Zuma was expected to address residents following unrest in the area.
Read more:
Zuma to address Vuwani locals
“Three of the vehicles belonged to the SABC and two were privately owned. All these vehicles had their windows smashed by protesters who also overturned and pelted four VIP toilets with stones,” said Mojapelo.
Four suspects were arrested after calm was restored by police.
Mojapelo says the suspects will appear in court soon on charges of malicious damage to property.
“Police will continue to monitor the area,” he concluded.
In a statement by the Presidency, it states that Zuma will return to address residents in Vuwani, soon.
Pres Zuma will go back to #Vuwani to address all community members, those who are against & those for the newly established municipality
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) May 7, 2017
The presidency stated that after assessing the situation on Sunday, a conclusion was reached that the community meeting was not representative of the whole community affected by the establishment of the new municipality.
“The meeting was mostly composed by those who oppose the new municipality,” the statement read.
