Makana Mayor Zamuxolo Peter cancelled an out of town trip after a senior ANC official summoned him to Alicedale on Monday 23 February. There he was met by a community hall in flames and burning barricades.
Makana Mayor Zamuxolo Peter cancelled an out of town trip after a senior ANC official summoned him to Alicedale on Monday 23 February. There he was met by a community hall in flames and burning barricades.
A 70-year-old woman was among the casualties of a protest when riot police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of about 250 people outside Nomfusi Maneli.
The pensioner, who had just collected her medication at the clinic, was groaning and visibly in pain as she told Grocott's Mail how she had been struck on the face by a police officer as she left the clinic.
Nomfusi Maneli said she had a heart condition and had gone to the clinic to collect her medication.
"I was leaving the clinic as they were shooting. I told them that I hadn't done anything and the police officer slapped me on the face and I think I fell on to a rock," said the pensioner.
Maneli's lip was visibly swollen as she queued at the police station to open a case of assault.
East London Public Order police were at the scene to monitor the situation.
Responding to questions about the protest, police spokesman Luvuyo Mjekula said Maneli had the right to report the matter to the police and open a case.
Mjekula said 34 people were arrested on charges of public violence for allegedly holding officials hostage.
"34 people were arrested – 19 are men and 15 women."
They are due to appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 24 March. Mjekula said the men were being transported to Grahamstown tonight, while the women were being sent to Paterson.
SABC radio journalist Mcebisi Ngqina, who was struck multiple times by rubber bullets while he was busy doing a live crossing at the scene, said the police came out of nowhere and started firing rubber bullets at the unsuspecting crowd.
He said he was injured in the process.
Ngqina sustained one injury to his hand, one on the leg and three on his back.
When Peter eventually arrived in Alicedale after being called by a member of the provincial legislature and former Makana Mayor Vumile Lwana, the police and fire fighters had already managed to contain the situation.
Peter addressed the media in the Alicedale police station shortly after his arrival. He admitted that the municpality had failed to meet some of the commitments made to residents of Alicedale.
Peter said securing land was the main obstacle to building houses in Alicedale. This had subsequently been resolved with the Department of Public Works.
"As we all know, housing is not a municipal competency, it's the Department of Human Settlements' competency," he said.
The Mayor said he had been in discussions with Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements regional director William Perks about building houses in Alicedale. Perks had committed to building 15.
A delegation sent to Alicedale earlier on the mayor's behalf included acting mayor Nombulelo Masoma, acting municipal manager Mandisi Planga and Lwana. Planga's car had to be towed away from the scene after protesters slit his tyres and broke his windows.
Community Police Forum chairperson Tina Louw Marais told Grocott's Mail that the community blamed the mayor for what was happening in Alicedale. Marais said Peter was unfit to be a mayor. She said they want the mayor to step down, alleging he is corrupt.
"We know what is happening in the municipality. He must go. He is unfit to be mayor," she said.
Marais said ward councillor Ernest Louw was among those arrested during the protest.
Peter left shortly after the meeting with the media and a handful of community members at the Alicedale police station, according to residents.
Soon after Peter arrived at the Alicedale Police station, Grahamstown cluster commander Brigadier Morgan Govender also arrived.
A week of protests about insufficient teachers at Hendrik Kanise Combined School in Alicedale was resolved on Thursday by the promise that a teacher would be brought.
However, on Friday 20 March, fresh protests erupted over service-delivery problems.
Public Order police were called in after crowd of around 300 people erected burning barricades on the main street and toyi-toyied to the municipal offices. They called for Makana Mayor Zamuxolo Peter to come and address them.
No damage to property was reported on Friday. After an assurance that the Mayor would address them on Monday 23 March,, the crowd returned to their homes.
Eyewitnesses say the Mayor's failure to arrive at the venue today inflamed the crowd.
"They didn't want to hear anyone but the Mayor," an eyewitness said.
Planga, along with other Makana officials was sent to address the residents. Shortly after 2pm today he confirmed he was in the Alicedale police station making a statement after the tyres of his vehicle were slit and he windows smashed.
