Residents of Phola woke up to be confronted by black smoke and burning tyres barricading the main road in and out of Phola.
Burning tyres barricade the main road at Phola during a protest on Tuesday, February 28.
The protest which started in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, February 28 prevented workers from commuting to work whilst learners could not attend school.
School children, workers and community members of Phola watching from the streets, burning tyres barricade the streets in the area
According to Constable Thabang Mabena, Ogies Police Station communication officer, the main complaint of the protesters was the issue of employment. He said they were told that miners and the other business do not take them seriously when they apply for work.
They further stated that people from outside Phola were employed in places like Kusile Power Station and the nearby mines. They also want business opportunities and skills development centres in their area.
A Toyota Quantum taxi and a bakkie were burned during the protest at Phola.
A bus ferrying workers from Kendal was burned to the ground while two Toyota Quantum taxis, a 4×4 bakkie and an Eskom Toyota Quantum was also slightly damaged.
A bus ferrying workers to a chicken farm in Kendal was also burned during the protest.
Police had a running battle with the protesters as some were seen burning barricades and throwing them with stones. The battle lasted until late afternoon as the protestors took the fight to the police.
An Eskom Toyota Quantum kombi was slightly damaged during the protest at Phola on Tuesday, February 28
Constable Mabena added that 10 suspects were arrested and charged with public violence and no further damage was reported.
Information received from Constable Mabena was that a petrol bomb was thrown at the municipal office in Phola during the night at around 21:00. Several windows were also broken and slight damage to the building was caused.
It was also reported that a 65 seater bus was apparently ‘hijacked’ at Vosman by the protestors on Wednesday, March 1 and driven to Kusile Power Station where they demonstrated outside. Police from different areas are monitoring the situation.
Phola was reportedly calm and back to normal in the morning.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/55040/demonstrations-at-phola/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/80324/red-ants-seeing-red-in-phola-land-invasion/
