RESIDENTS of Mashishing, near Lydenburg, again took to the streets in protests over service delivery.
RESIDENTS of Mashishing, near Lydenburg, again took to the streets in protests over service delivery.
They burned several objects that they also used to block the roads.
The whole action allegedly started after an ANC councillor had called a meeting at Matibidi near Graskop over the weekend.
Word soon spread that embattled executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Clara Ndlovu would attend the meeting that would be about the selection of people to represent the community.
Residents allegedly disrupted the meeting and even held a councillor and officials hostage for more than five hours. They were rescued by the police.
Residents gathered in small groups on street corners on Sunday after the meeting. But when Sowetan arrived in in the township yesterday everything seemed normal, with municipal workers seen paving the roads.
Taxis were ferrying commuters until just after 10am when residents, mostly young boys, started throwing stones at vehicles.
Schools had to be dismissed early because of the rioting.
The driver of a bakkie belonging to the municipality had to abandon it and run to a police station about 100m away when protesters smashed the vehicle's windows.
Several drivers fled in their vehicles when the stone-throwing youths turned violent.
"People have not obtained what they wanted from the government. They believe the government is dragging its feet in addressing service delivery and other problems," said Mashishing Activists Forum spokesperson Samora Molotjwa.
Mashishing has seen protests that lasted more than two months after the alleged disappearance of R3,2million from the municipality's main bank account.
A resident, Jacob Malakane, was shot dead by police during one of the recent protests in which government offices, vehicles, houses and clinics were burnt.
The council could not be reached for comment.
Mashishing burns
RESIDENTS of Mashishing, near Lydenburg, again took to the streets in protests over service delivery.
RESIDENTS of Mashishing, near Lydenburg, again took to the streets in protests over service delivery.
They burned several objects that they also used to block the roads.
The whole action allegedly started after an ANC councillor had called a meeting at Matibidi near Graskop over the weekend.
Word soon spread that embattled executive mayor of Thaba Chweu Clara Ndlovu would attend the meeting that would be about the selection of people to represent the community.
Residents allegedly disrupted the meeting and even held a councillor and officials hostage for more than five hours. They were rescued by the police.
Residents gathered in small groups on street corners on Sunday after the meeting. But when Sowetan arrived in in the township yesterday everything seemed normal, with municipal workers seen paving the roads.
Taxis were ferrying commuters until just after 10am when residents, mostly young boys, started throwing stones at vehicles.
Schools had to be dismissed early because of the rioting.
The driver of a bakkie belonging to the municipality had to abandon it and run to a police station about 100m away when protesters smashed the vehicle's windows.
Several drivers fled in their vehicles when the stone-throwing youths turned violent.
"People have not obtained what they wanted from the government. They believe the government is dragging its feet in addressing service delivery and other problems," said Mashishing Activists Forum spokesperson Samora Molotjwa.
Mashishing has seen protests that lasted more than two months after the alleged disappearance of R3,2million from the municipality's main bank account.
A resident, Jacob Malakane, was shot dead by police during one of the recent protests in which government offices, vehicles, houses and clinics were burnt.
The council could not be reached for comment.
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