‘We have nothing against the police’ – Amandawe protesters
They say their issues are with the municipality.
Everyone has been following the recent protest action being held by the Amandawe community and surrounding areas, but no one has really stopped to listen to what some of these protesters have to say on the matter.
Welcome Mnyandu, a resident of Amandawe, recently approached the Mail to speak on behalf of his family and give his thoughts on the whole situation as one of the protesters.
“Firstly I just want to say, we don’t want to harm or kill anyone as is being made out; we simply want the right people to start listening to us and give our families and community better lives,” he said.
Recently, permission was granted to protesters for another protest march to Scottburgh, where the Anti Deployment Association would have handed over yet another memorandum with their demands to the mayor, Thabani Dube. Unfortunately, that did not happen, as several protesters from surrounding areas decided to break the rules.
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“The organisers of the march indicated that they would be 4 000 strong and permission might fall away if there were any burning of tyres and damage to property,” said Umdoni Municipality councillor, Shara Singh.
Tyres were burnt to block the roads and vehicles were stoned on the N2 northbound. According to Saps, it is believed that separate groups from KwaCele, Amahlongwa and neighbouring areas were on their way to join Amandawe protesters when these incidents occurred.
The protesters who had been gathering in Amandawe at the time were then informed that it was now illegal for them to march to Scottburgh as the rules had not been followed.
Some of the protesters, however, including Mr Mnyandu, did not receive word that the march was now illegal.
The group he was with on the day was standing near a crowd that began to get a bit rowdy and rubber bullets were soon fired at them as well as tear gas. Mr Mnyandu was arrested with his three children aged 15, 16 and 17 and they were kept in police custody for the day.
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“I want to know why I was arrested when I was present at the scene, but did absolutely nothing. There were people who were even trying to stone the mayor when he came to receive the memorandum, but I don’t think they were arrested and treated the way I was, even though I did nothing wrong but stand with my community, fighting for something positive,” he said.
“Our issue is with the municipality and not with the police. We don’t want it to look as if it’s us versus the police, while the people we elected to sit in those chairs just watch us,” he said.
These protesters have not given up yet and said they would continue until they get what they felt they deserved.
Police continue to monitor the situation and have dispersed several groups gathering during the past week.
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