Pietermaritzburg – At least 16 people were arrested on Monday during a protest for houses at Copesville, a Pietermaritzburg suburb, after they allegedly torched the office of their councillor Thandi Ndlovu whom they want removed.
Police said that about 5 000 protestors began gathering at 03:00 on Monday morning at the intersection of New Greytown and Aquarius roads and removed the metal barriers on the side of the roads to use them as barricades.
Police said protesters blocked access to Copesville. They barricaded streets with burning tyres and other objects.
Owing to the violent nature of the protests schools in the area remained closed.
Police spokeswoman Captain Gay Ebrahim said a mob went to Ndlovu’s house, but she was not there so they went to her office, which they allegedly set alight.
Ndlovu, an African National Congress (ANC) member, is the councillor for ward 35.
“We have waited for houses to be provided, but it has been years of waiting in vain. We are tired of her failures,” complained a community member, who asked to remain anonymous.
School pupils, who could not attend school, said they had to miss tests because of the protests.
Scelo Khuzwayo, the spokesperson for Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni, said: “Community protests that result in the disruption of schooling are a major concern for the department. We have, on a number of occasions, been pleading with communities to prioritise education and make sure that when there are protests schools are not affected”.
Captain Ebrahim said 16 people had been arrested in the protests.
African News Agency
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