Rage over better roads and housing returns in Northern Cape

About 16,000 Northern Cape children were forced to stay away from school during protests for roads in 2012.

Locals went on the rampage again yesterday for better roads and housing.

Police moved swiftly to quell tensions and arrested seven people for public violence.

Protesters from the Santa Centre informal settlement began protesting early yesterday morning. They blocked Barkly Road between Galeshewe and Kimberley with burnt tyres and rubbish.

Colonel Mohale Ramatseba, acting police head of Northern Cape corporate communication, said residents were protesting about a lack of housing and road access to the area.

Kimberley public order police are monitoring the area, which has been peaceful since Mangaliso Matika, mayor of Sol Plaatjie municipality, addressed residents.

Matika will meet the disgruntled residents again to discuss a way forward.

Lieutenant-General Risimati Shivuri, Northern Cape SAPS commissioner, warned protesters that the police would not tolerate law-breakers and the disruption of traffic.

More than four years ago all hell broke out in John Taolo Gaetsewe district municipality when people demanded roads to link villages in the area.

Buildings were set alight and entrances to villages were blocked.

They also intimidated teachers and pupils to stay away from school. About 16,000 children were forced to stay at home for three months.

At the time department of public works spokesman Crystal Robertson said it would cost at least R1.3-billion to have the roads tarred and upgraded.