THE family of the ward councillor who is the target of the community in the land invasion battle in Nellmapius, Pretoria East, has been taken into hiding.
Ward 86 councillor Precious Marole confirmed to Sowetan yesterday that Tshwane municipality has offered him a safe house after his home was looted by protesters led by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members on Wednesday.
Angry protesters broke the gate and the door to his house and helped themselves to food, appliances, two TVs, a washing machine, clothes and a playstation. The house was vacant at the time.
Nellmapius residents, who mostly rent RDP houses, invaded a piece of empty land on Sunday and started erecting shacks. Tshwane metro police and the SAPS have since been deployed to the area, where cases of shooting by police were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was quiet yesterday.
The Maroles were still picking up the pieces yesterday after the Wednesday chaos, which left all the windows of their home being shattered.
The Metro police were keeping guard outside, with furniture and dishes thrown all over the house.
"It's a mess. We didn't deserve this. Now we will have to start all over again. All our clothes are gone and we are scared for our lives," said Marole's wife Pinky.
Marole later told Sowetan that his family of six would move to an undisclosed area for safety.
"The municipality has offered us a place to stay and I couldn't decline it. We won't be back until maybe next year when the atmosphere is calm," he said, adding that six people had been arrested for theft.
The ANC councillor blamed the EFF for the invasion and attack on his house.
"I became a victim because I lived close to the land they wanted to invade. They thought I was the one who had called the police to stop them. I was an easy target.
"Of course, I'm against the land grab because that land is earmarked for low-cost houses. Since the emergence of EFF, they think they can do as they please," said Marole.
The EFF's national executive has pledged its support for action, saying it is a result of the government's failure to address land restitution.
Meanwhile, Nellmapius pensioner Ignasius Molusi Mokoeya, 65, who had seven stitches on his head after being hit by a stray bullet, opened a case against the police at Silverton police station yesterday and plans to sue.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Family goes into safe hiding - homeseekers smash, loot councillor's house
THE family of the ward councillor who is the target of the community in the land invasion battle in Nellmapius, Pretoria East, has been taken into hiding.
Ward 86 councillor Precious Marole confirmed to Sowetan yesterday that Tshwane municipality has offered him a safe house after his home was looted by protesters led by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members on Wednesday.
Angry protesters broke the gate and the door to his house and helped themselves to food, appliances, two TVs, a washing machine, clothes and a playstation. The house was vacant at the time.
Nellmapius residents, who mostly rent RDP houses, invaded a piece of empty land on Sunday and started erecting shacks. Tshwane metro police and the SAPS have since been deployed to the area, where cases of shooting by police were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was quiet yesterday.
The Maroles were still picking up the pieces yesterday after the Wednesday chaos, which left all the windows of their home being shattered.
The Metro police were keeping guard outside, with furniture and dishes thrown all over the house.
"It's a mess. We didn't deserve this. Now we will have to start all over again. All our clothes are gone and we are scared for our lives," said Marole's wife Pinky.
Marole later told Sowetan that his family of six would move to an undisclosed area for safety.
"The municipality has offered us a place to stay and I couldn't decline it. We won't be back until maybe next year when the atmosphere is calm," he said, adding that six people had been arrested for theft.
The ANC councillor blamed the EFF for the invasion and attack on his house.
"I became a victim because I lived close to the land they wanted to invade. They thought I was the one who had called the police to stop them. I was an easy target.
"Of course, I'm against the land grab because that land is earmarked for low-cost houses. Since the emergence of EFF, they think they can do as they please," said Marole.
The EFF's national executive has pledged its support for action, saying it is a result of the government's failure to address land restitution.
Meanwhile, Nellmapius pensioner Ignasius Molusi Mokoeya, 65, who had seven stitches on his head after being hit by a stray bullet, opened a case against the police at Silverton police station yesterday and plans to sue.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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