The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma condemned violent protests which erupted in some parts of the province, including Phola and Kanyamazane, where infrastructure was vandalised and looted.
General Zuma’s condemnation comes after the Emalahleni Municipality Offices in Phola, near Ogies were torched by a group of people yesterday evening. In Kanyamazane outside Nelspruit, shops owned by foreign nationals as well as a liquor outlet were vandalised and looted. In both places, they further barricaded the roads with burning tyres, rocks as well as other objects. Both protests are believed to be service-delivery oriented.
Four people, Amon Khumalo aged 37, Ernest Mango aged 43, Ricardo Mondlane aged 22 and Fernando Sithole 18, were arrested with regard to the Kanyamazane protest and charged with public violence. They have appeared at the Kabokweni Magistrate Court today, where Khumalo was released on warning and the other three remained in custody for further investigation. All four were ordered to appear again at the same court on 12 September 2018.
“As the South African Police Service we are aware of the right that people have to protest, but that should be done within the ambit of the law. Any act of criminality shall be dealt with accordingly without any fear, favour or prejudice”, said General Zuma.