Witbank Police Station spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall said members of the community embarked on the illegal protest on Monday, January 26.
Mr Weine van der Merwe and Rico van der Walt, Upfront employees, were returning from work when they were confronted by a mob of people who were protesting.
In a moment they were surrounded by the mob, but were saved by an old man who protected them and told them to run for their lives.
According to Captain Hall the mob complained about unemployment at Kusile Power Station then about poor service delivery.
The protesters used stones, logs and burning tyres to close the main roads.
The group then directed their anger by looting two shops owned by foreigners. One of the shops was set alight and the owner fell down after he was running away from the shop. He was taken to hospital and was confirmed dead on arrival, police opened an inquest and his death is not associated with the protest according to the police.
The attack on foreigners’ shops is no way related to attack on foreigner’s shops in Soweto and other areas, police confirmed.
The police have opened three cases of malicious damage to property.
Mr J.M. Reyneke reported that he was on his way to a dumping site when his vehicle was stopped as the road was full of stones and burning tyres. He could not pass, was surrounded by the protesters and had some items stolen from his car. A cell phone, car keys and cash were stolen. All the stolen items are worth R6 000.
Mr Willem Abraham reported that his vehicle was stoned while passing near Old Coronation. They damaged both the left and right rear doors.
Van der Merwe’s car is valued at R700 000; his keys and wallet were also stolen before the vehicle was set alight.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga Major General (Adv) Meshack Nogwanya, condemns the spate of violence that erupted in eMalahleni.
Reports revealed that during the protest, some protestors looted shops belonging to foreign nationals and burnt one of them, which was operating from a container.
In the midst of their anger that was directed at Kusile, the community started to divert their focus to the Local Municipality, now complaining about service delivery. They then marched to the offices of Emalahleni to meet with the officials.
Police had to be called in to monitor the situation as the marchers started to harass hawkers and even looting their belongings.
The police managed to force them back to their area before more damage could be done.
“It is clear that within those who participated in the march, there was an element of hooliganism. As the police, we will not tolerate lawlessness whether there is concern regarding jobs or services that cannot be a vehicle to commit crime. The community should know that if they loot or embark in an illegal march, the law will act harshly against them,” warned Maj Gen Nogwanya.
Witbank 911 helped a lot by informing and updating motorists on which road were safe to use.
