Protest action continues in Vredenburg

Picture: Twitter/ @SAPoliceService

Picture: Twitter/ @SAPoliceService

Published Nov 14, 2018

Share

Cape Town - Protest action over poor service delivery is continuing in the Cape West Coast town of Vredenburg on Wednesday.

According to the Saldanha Municipality, "the situation is still tense in the George Kerridge and Hopland area with incidents of the burning of tyres". 

Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies continue to monitor the situation.

The municipality said that all roads in Vredenburg were open, including main roads leading into the town but the municipality’s motor registration centre was non-operational due to a shortage of employees who were unable to leave their residences in George Kerridge. 

The municipality added that Louwville High School in Vredenburg had postponed all examinations scheduled for Wednesday. All examinations would shift one day forward.

On Tuesday Public Order Police were deployed to Vredenburg and surrounding areas in response to protest action about poor service delivery in areas such as Ongegund (the broader informal settlement). 

According to police spokesman Captain FC Van Wyk, protesters started to throw stones at Vredenburg Police Station and damaged 11 SAPS vehicles, several private vehicles and shops. 

A case of public violence was opened for investigation. 

Van Wyk said that 38 people (28 males and 10 females age between 20 and 59) were arrested on Tuesday for public violence. Police took action to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported.  

On Wednesday morning, the court case was postponed until Thursday and the suspects remain in custody.    

"We are urging protesters to carry themselves in an orderly manner that does not infringe on the rights of others," Van Wyk said.

* Receive IOL's top stories via Whatsapp by sending your name to 0745573535. 

IOL

Related Topics: