Johannesburg - The house of a chieftain was set alight and Bokoni Platinum mine equipment destroyed outside Burgersfort, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.
“The double-storey house was burnt last night, but not the whole house. However, the estimated damage is R500 000,” spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
“Mining equipment was also burnt, including trucks and pick-up trucks. The equipment was stored at the house. No arrests have been made.”
Mulaudzi said more information was not immediately available.
He said police were investigating cases of public violence and malicious damage to property.
SABC news reported that the chieftain had authorised mine blasting in the area, which killed a man doing welding work in the Masonti Ga-Selepe village. According to the report, residents became upset and decided to take the law into their own hands.
Sapa