Johannesburg - Eight more people have been arrested in connection with the torching of over 20 schools in the Vhembe district, Limpopo police said on Saturday.
“The total number of suspects arrested is now 23. This is as a result of the arrest of eight suspects last night [Friday]. The number of affected schools is still at 24,” said spokesman Lt-Col Malesela Ledwaba.
He said a school that had been partially damaged was burnt down overnight.
Twenty of the 24 schools were completely burnt down, while four were partially damaged.
Calm was restored and police maintained a strong presence after a week-long protest that saw thousands of school pupils in limbo after protesters turned their anger on schools and other public buildings in and around the Vuwani area. A tribal office, a post office, and vehicles were also reduced to ashes. Public transport services and businesses remained closed.
The violent protests started last Sunday after residents were told by community leaders that their court bid to be excluded from a new municipality had failed.
A Limpopo High Court last Friday ruled against the Vuwani community’s application against the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) decision to include their villages in the new municipality, which would encompass Vuwani and Malamulele.
Traditional leaders and the Vuwani task team insist they were not consulted about the move because the invitation to the MDB public hearing did not specify that their villages would be affected by the new demarcation.
On Thursday, President Jacob Zuma sent Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister David van Rooyen, and State Security Minister David Mahlobo to the troubled Vuwani area to assess the damage and bring stability in the violence torn district.
Mahlobo told a media briefing on Thursday that a specialised unit would work with intelligence services to investigate those behind the violence and destruction of property that accompanied the protest.
On Friday, VhaVenda king Toni Mphephu Ramabulana told reporters that he supported protests against the MDB decision, but condemned the violence and destruction of property.
Villagers were protesting because they wanted to remain within the Makhado municipality, he said, and called for authorities and traditional leaders to work together and resolve the impasse. Ramabulana held a closed meeting with human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Makhoma Makurupetje and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
With additional police sent to the Vuwani area, protesters have vowed to continue fighting against inclusion in the new municipality until August 3, when the 2016 local government elections are scheduled to take place.
– African News Agency