The group, which started their protest on Thursday, August 7, lead to the burning of the rooms. Apparently they wanted to prevent the hostel dwellers from going to work.
The protesters had blocked the main access roads in Ackerville and Lynnville, at about 04:00. Entrance and exit routes to Ackerville and Lynnville were blocked, rubbish bins upended, stones and tyres were burnt in the streets.
Clothes, beds and blankets, were burned in the four rooms.
One of the hostel dweller said he saw a group of people coming towards the hostel, they threw a petrol bomb and assaulted dwellers who are mostly Xhosa speaking. One of the residents was assaulted and later allegedly shot about six times.
The injured man said he was assaulted and later shot without any provocation.
“If these people want war they will get it. They cannot come here and assault us without any provocation. We are aware that they are protesting but they must not assault us.”
A resident said he was called from work, told that his room was on fire and he rushed home to find his room burned. He said his bed and clothes were all burned and windows were broken as well.
The community said he was trying to find a solution to the problem to avoid confrontation.
