Community riot at Silobela, Carolina

The situation was tense at Silobela, Carolina as angry members of the community barricaded roads with stones, tree branches, drums and burning tires, in protest against local mines that do not give employment to local people yesterday.

The riots started in the early hours of Monday around 03:00 where people making their way to work were turned back.

No taxi operations ferrying people to work were allowed to enter or leave Silobela, school buses were also turned away resulting to learners not attending school.

Local mines are accused of not implementing their Social Labour Plan within the community and hiring many people from out of town leaving locals unemployed.

Members of the SAPS kept a close watch on the situation that turned volatile in the evening as a police vehicle was cornered and stoned. The officer on the wheel had to fire several shots in the air to disperse the crowd.

One person was shot on the leg during the confrontation between police and the angry mob.

Today the situation is somewhat back to normal as learners are back to school and all operations are running as normal.

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