North West protesters arrested

Published Jul 27, 2012

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Sixty-seven residents of the Schamberg informal settlement in the North West were arrested for taking part in an illegal protest, police said on Friday.

Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said the 67 were part of a group of nearly 600 local residents who barricaded the R506 road in Hartbeespoort with tree trunks and stones on Thursday morning.

Mobile toilets were burned and stones were thrown at police officers. A constable was injured in the incident.

The protest was related to the residents' dissatisfaction with the Madibeng municipality's service delivery.

“The protesters were apparently unhappy with the municipality's delivery (of) services, specifically water provision,” said Ngubane.

Calm was restored by noon on Thursday, but police were keeping watch.

Ngubane said the 67 would appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of malicious damage to property and public violence. - Sapa

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