Vuwani protests take weekend break for shopping, funerals

After more than a week of violent demonstrations in Vuwani‚ Limpopo‚ during which more than 20 schools were set alight and vandalised‚ the residents have agreed to halt the protests until 6pm on Sunday.

A councillor in Vuwani‚ who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media‚ said: “Our people need to get to the shops to buy food‚ and we have people who need to be buried … and then on Sunday night we will continue with the protest.”

The demonstrations started last weekend after residents failed in a court bid to overturn a decision by the demarcation board to include Vuwani into a new municipality with Malamulele.

Residents said they were happy falling under the current Makhado municipality.

Police confirmed that 15 people had been arrested for arson and malicious damage to property.

Police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba said the suspects would probably appear in court on Monday.

 - TMG Digital/The Times