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Protesters shot with rubber bullets

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Some of the protestors who were shot by rubber bullets outside the gates of water reticulation construction site at Sasekani Village. Photo by Oris MnisiPhoto by
Some of the protestors who were shot by rubber bullets outside the gates of water reticulation construction site at Sasekani Village. Photo by Oris MnisiPhoto by

THREE protesters were rushed to hospital on Monday afternoon after they were shot with rubber bullets, allegedly by police.

The marchers were protesting over a community water project in Sasekani Village outside Dwarsloop near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.

Shocked protesters told the SunTeam the police arrived and started firing rubber bullets at protesters, hitting Prince Rasitsoka (42), Terrence Makhubela (26) and Emmanuel Matsane (32) before they left the scene.

“We were protesting peacefully outside the gates of the construction site for the water reticulation In the village. Suddenly police came in two vans. They started shooting at us with rubber bullets. One the bullets pierced me in the arm, Terrence was shot on the leg, and Prince was shot on the thigh and could not walk. We were bleeding as the police left so other residents rushed us to the hospital,” said Emmanuel.

The protesters said they were not happy with their ward councillor, who is also the chief whip in the Bushbuckridge Municipality.

They alleged he has interest in the R18 million water project and has employed his own people who already have benefited in the expanded public works programme.

Several attempts to reach the councillor for comment were fruitless as his phone rang answered.

Bushbuckridge municipal spokesman Aubrey Mnisi said the municipality appointed a service provider to implement the water reticulation project on behalf of the community.

“The contract has been handed over to start the project. Part of our project management policy states that the ward council should appoint a project steering committee to oversee the implementation of the project. All project steering committees should be inclusive of all stakeholder. With the current challenge at ward 37, we will call the office of the speaker to intervene to solve the challenge. We also call on the project steering committee to resolve the challenge and make sure the project continues and be completed in six months,” said Mnisi.

Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the police went to the project site and found people causing havoc and disturbance at the school.

“Police had to disperse them with rubber bullets because of their callous behaviour. And a case of public violence as well as violating of lockdown regulations have been opened and investigations are underway,” said Hlathi.

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