A NUMBER of North West towns experienced violent service delivery protests on Tuesday and yesterday.
The situation was at its most tense in Blydeville, near Lichtenburg. The protest took a fatal turn when a man shot into the crowd and killed a 15-year-old boy.
Residents were furious, saying a task team set up by the provincial government earlier this year to deal with issues such as water, housing and schooling had not reported back to the community since April. On Tuesday and yesterday, furious protesters burned a chicken truck, barricaded roads and pelted motorists with stones.
Community leader Philip Lottering said the provincial task team had lied to the community and residents wanted Premier Supra Mahumapelo to address them. The protesters vowed to continue making the area ungovernable until the premier visited.
- Meanwhile, in Tigane near Klerksdorp, community members and dismissed Shiva mineworkers protested for jobs. They burned tyres and put rocks on a number of roads, blocking traffic.
- In Boikhutso Village, near Ventersdorp, pupils burned down a mobile school, wanting a proper school built.
Lieutenant-General Baile Motswenyane advised motorists to use alternative routes as the N13 connecting Lichtenburg, Vryburg, Delareyville and Kuruman to Gauteng was closed.
