Vredenburg protest spreads to Saldanha

A picture of the protest in Vredenburg on Tuesday. @SAPoliceService

A picture of the protest in Vredenburg on Tuesday. @SAPoliceService

Published Nov 15, 2018

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Cape Town - Western Cape police are monitoring the situation in the Saldanha area following an illegal march, burning of tyres and throwing of stones in the roads and at police by a group of about 5 000 people on Thursday morning at about 3 am.

 According to police, the protest occurred in the Irak and Middelpos informal settlements and spread to Diazville. Action was taken to disperse the crowd.

 According to reports, the Diazville Civic and some of the buildings at the Tabakbaai Holiday Resort was set alight. No injuries were reported.

 A case of public violence was opened for investigation.

Thursday morning's protest over poor service delivery follows two days of protest action in the Vredenburg area on the West Coast.

According to reports, protesters are demanding housing and better sanitation services.

On Tuesday Public Order Police were deployed to Vredenburg and surrounding areas in response to protests in areas such as Ongegund. 

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. 

Thirty-eight people were arrested on Tuesday. 

According to the Saldanha Bay Municipality, Executive Mayor, Alderman Marius Koen met with approximately 3 500 community members in Louwville, Vredenburg on Wednesday night to discuss their concerns and to provide feedback from the municipality. 

The West Coast Business Chamber was set to meet with the Executive Mayor and Mayoral Committee on Thursday morning to provide an update.

IOL

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