Thembalethu residents in George want National Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to suspend senior Southern Cape police officials who used “excessive force” against residents protesting the lack of municipal services.
Fifty-eight people were arrested for public violence after service delivery protests in Thembalethu turned violent on Wednesday, with police firing rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas at demonstrators who burnt tyres, threw stones and set alight a municipal building and a vehicle.
Thembalethu residents claim several community members sustained serious injuries, including two children – an eight-year-old wounded in the head and a toddler who suffered smoke inhalation.
The 3 000-strong crowd took to the streets to demand basic services from their local municipality.
One of the organisers, Jackson Sikweza, claimed police were trigger-happy – “shooting at anyone and everything that moved”.
“Our people have to live like animals – no houses, no water, no sanitation and no infrastructure.
“The municipality has been ignoring our plight for far too long. People have been living like this for more than 20 years,” he said.
Sikweza confirmed that a municipal building and a vehicle were set alight but said trouble started when police cordoned off the township’s only entry and exit point.
“They stopped people from marching to the local George municipality. We had the proper permission and they ended up arresting people. Even those who were on their way to work and later the day, those arriving home.”
Sikweza said the people wanted an opportunity to voice their concerns.
“People feel police attacked them for no proper reason. They were the ones who said the march was over even before it started.”
ANC regional secretary for George, Castro Leholo, described the service delivery protest as chaotic.
“Police blocked off the area, preventing protesters from marching. They started arresting people and the crowd be-came even more agitated and angry.”
He said residents had resolved to call on Mthethwa and the Independent Complaints Directorate to take action against police.
George councillor and president of the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners, Virgill Gericke, who was at the scene, said the police action was shocking.
“They were just contributing to an already volatile situation.
“There was no control from the commanding structures in the police. At the police station people that disembarked from vans were physically beaten.”
Southern Cape police confirmed that 58 people were arrested for public violence during Wednesday’s action.
Captain Bernadine Steyn said four policemen were injured during the incident.
“The road was blockaded, tyres burned and stones were thrown. Four SAPS vehicles were damaged and one traffic vehicle. Stones were also thrown at Thembalethu police station and petrol bombs at SAPS members,” she said.
“A sergeant sustained an open wound just above the eye and was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition, stones were thrown at two members and half a brick at one member.
“An Opel Corsa bakkie and the municipal building were set alight.
“We used rubber bullets and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse the group.”
She said the 58 suspects would appear in the Thembalethu Magistrate’s Court on November 9. - Weekend Argus