Siyavuya Mzantsi
GOVERNMENT buildings in Pineview in Grabouw were damaged as a violent protest over lack of services entered its third day yesterday.
Thousands of pupils, Grade 12s writing their “mock” matric exams, were unable to get to school for a second day yesterday.
The protests began on Monday and soon turned violent.
Early yesterday, residents set alight a traffic department building, gutting it. They also broke windows at a Home Affairs office, the post office, and the fire station.
The N2 had to be closed after 10 vehicles were pelted with stones.
Yesterday’s protest erupted after community leaders met Theewaterskloof mayor Chris Punt to look for a solution to end the violent demonstrations in Grabouw.
Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd of about 500 people.
The protesters burnt rubble on the road and blocked the N2 highway with rocks.
“We are not happy with the outcome of the meeting. The mayor has indicated that he does not care about the people. He says the protest was political while it was purely organised by residents who are tired of the poor services in this place,” Zwayi Bangazana, one of the community leaders, said after the meeting.
“The mayor refused to go and address the people. We have no feedback to tell them. He kept on saying he had a flight to catch.”
Some of the community leaders walked out of the meeting as they were not satisfied with Punt’s answers to their demands for better roads, houses and services.
Punt said: “The meeting started positively, until several community representatives were not happy with the answers I gave them and they walked out. But we had a fruitful meeting with those who stayed.
“I am currently in Johannesburg to meet President Jacob Zuma. The protest is political and the sad thing is that people are being used.”
“On Monday we received information from other residents that there were people who wanted to destabilise the area. Municipal elections are coming and some people will do anything to score political points.”
Grade 12 pupil Groenberg Suzette-Lee Eland was among thousands who were not able to write exams on Tuesday and yesterday.
“When we went to school, the gates and classes were closed. I was supposed to be writing an Afrikaans exam, but there is no one at school. Most of our teachers stay outside Grabouw, so they are not able to make it to school.
“The road is closed and some of the exam papers have not arrived because of what has been happening in this place.
“I am concerned right now. This is the most crucial time of my career. I prepared so well for the exams. I’m angry, frustrated and sad.
“I don’t know what to do because it looks like this is going to continue for ever.”
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer has said officials are working with schools to reschedule exams and assessment sessions.