The spate of public violence that erupted this week in Marikana has caused damage worth more than R1-million‚ according to the police.
On Tuesday‚ members of the public went on a vandalising spree in Marikana and set alight two trucks whilst shattering the windows of 30 others in what police are calling an incident of public violence.
On Friday‚ calm had been restored and the N4‚ which suffered a series of closures‚ was now open‚ police said.
A source who did not want to be named said the violence was a result of political parties imposing councillors at certain wards in the area whom community members did not want as their leaders.
Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the violence started on Tuesday with some members of the community pelting cars on the N4 with stones and blocking the road with debris and rocks.
Hlathi said that although the investigation was still ongoing the police had arrested 12 people so far and they had been expected to appear before court on Friday morning.
“An investigation is still under way‚ but the damage so far has been estimated to be more than R1-million. We cannot say whether it’s a service delivery protest or just vandals‚ but we as the SAPS condemn this spate of violence that is going on. If people have issues they must deal with them in an amicable way rather than choosing violence‚” said Hlathi.
– TMG Digital
