Esme Jood

Esme Jood

The people of Verdwaal village, near Itsoseng township in North West, are up in arms.

They marched to the Itsoseng police station on Tuesday to demand that they be protected from an animal, believed to be a baboon, that they say is terrorising the village.

The animal, which strikes at night while people are sleeping, has left the community living in fear.

Residents said the animal bangs on shack doors and climbs on to roofs and throws missiles at windows.

Abel Maetla, who lives with his younger brother Edward and his nephew Thabang in a three-roomed shack, said the terror started at about midnight on Thursday last week.

"It smashed the door, climbed on the roof and made a noise with something that sounded like a chain."

Kebapetse Mokopanelo, who lives with her daughter-in-law and four grandchildren, said her shack was attacked on Monday night.