28 people linked to violence were arrested in the recent service delivery protest in Middelburg.
The suspects were charged with public violence and contravention of Disaster Management Act. They are expected to appear in court soon while more arrests are imminent.
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Yesterday, the N4 and N11 were closed temporarily by the protesters. Several vehicles including a truck, bus and a minibus were torched. Other roads coming in and out of the surrounding townships, were barricaded with burning tyres and rubble. Some foreign national shops were also looted.
The protest was sparked by the recent increases in rates and taxes by the Municipality. Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe along with the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, visited the area yesterday.
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“This is one of the best run municipalities because for many years, it has produced Clean Audit Reports. Therefore, we must do everything to protect it. People have a right to protest but it must be done within the ambit of the law. We should not allow criminality to find its way during the protests,” says Shongwe.
