Protesters looted and burned down Mall@eMba during violent protest

The service delivery protest escalated into violence and crime and left Mall@eMba burned down on Monday, 25 June.

This came after a large number of protesters confronted the police moving towards the side of the mall.

The residents hurled stones at officers and used various items such as doors and corrugated sheets to shield themselves from rubber bullets fired by police.

The residents divided into various groups and eventually gained access to the mall.

They began looting every shop and then set the mall alight.

The Govan Mbeki Fire and Rescue team extinguished the fire under heavy police presence.

The protesters were running around with their looted items on Tuesday, 26 June, and most were arrested.

Brig Leonard Hlathi, police spokesman, said over a hundred protesters were arrested thus far.

They are facing various charges, including public violence and theft.

He said those who were arrested must face harsh punishment for the damage that they have caused.

“The situation is still volatile and I advise locals who are not involved in the protest, to stay indoors. The protesters have burned down the non-operational Engine filling station. We are doing everything in our power to control the situation.

“We condemn the violence and criminal activities that are now taking place.

“If people have issues with the municipality, there are legal routes to follow, and violence is not one of them.”

Brig Hlathi said the police would continue to make arrests to prevent further damages.

The Sasol flats residents were complaining about the protesters who were hiding in the yard of the flats.

They could not sleep because the protesters were busy the whole night.

The protesters blame the police and said they provoked them to become violent.

The protesting leaders were hailing and mobilising the community to go to the Risko Fakude Stadium for a meeting.

At the meeting on Monday, 25 June they vowed that they would not stop protesting until President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses them.

In a separate incident, another protest action has also erupted in Kinross on Monday night.

According to a reliable source, the Marikana residents are protesting over new stands that were approved in Extension 30.

It is alleged that the residents were upset when they heard that other people have received SMSs that they have been approved to get stands.

The Marikana residents feel they are left behind, because they were also promised that their area would have been approved and would be called Extension 33.

They barricaded the road between Kinross and Leandra with stones and burning tyres.

Govan Mbeki Municipality was not available for comment at time of going to the press.