WATCH: Chaos as rubber bullets fired near the N1 circle
Motorists and residents have been urged to avoid the N1 circle as public order police attempt to disperse a large crowd.
POLOKWANE – Public Order Police have fired rubber bullets at protestors near the N1 circle in Polokwane.
Residents from Seshego blocked the N1 with stones as they moved from the Polokwane Municipality in protest over the ongoing water crisis.
Read more: Rubber bullets fired as Seshego residents protest over water
They are demanding the Executive Mayor, John Mpe act on promises made to restore water supply to the municipal area.
Motorists and residents have been urged to avoid the area completely as police attempt to disperse the crowd.
Traffic is currently being diverted through Nirvana and Ivy Park as a result of the blockade and motorists are encouraged to exercise patience.
Traffic is being diverted through Nirvana and Ivy Park as a result of the N1 blockade. (video supplied) #SeshegoWaterProtest pic.twitter.com/kAaEsSf45L
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) October 26, 2022
Negotiations are currently underway between EFF Limpopo Chairperson Jossey Buthane and police to open the N1.
Negotiations between EFF Limpopo chairman Jossey Buthane and police are underway to open the N1. #SeshegoProtest pic.twitter.com/O8a7O0ppQv
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) October 26, 2022
Earlier, the protest forced shops to close on Landdros Mare Street as the crowd made their way to the Polokwane Municipality to hand over a memorandum of demands.
On Tuesday, Mpe condemned and discouraged any effort or plans to infringe other individuals’ rights and to sabotage public infrastructure. “People have a right to march, however it should not infringe on people’s rights. People must be allowed to carry on with their daily business. Children must be allowed to go to school, businesses must be allowed to operate and people must be able to go to work. No one must be forced to participate in a march,” he said in a statement. Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said any violent protest, conduct and sabotage of infrastructure is discouraged because it will further escalate the problem and will not solve it. 
