Mayixhale Road: 'arrests soon'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Police expect to make arrests soon in connection with the public violence in Mayixhale Road in Mossel Bay and damage to the road and an electricity substation there at the end of August.

On enquiry, KwaNonqaba Police spokesperson Sergeant Kappie Kapp said: "The investigation is at a very advanced stage."

Mayixhale Road is an important route in Mossel Bay, linking Voorbaai to KwaNonqaba and to Pinnacle Point and Dana Bay. It is used by many motorists.

There were reports that demonstrators were throwing stones at vehicles. Also, they threw bricks across the road to prevent motorists using it and dug a ditch in the road, which must be repaired.

Crowd of 50
Kapp said a crowd of 50 demonstrators had gathered. He said it was alleged they were members of an informal settlement in KwaNonqaba, who were unhappy, complaining about "lack of municipal service delivery"

Demonstrations on and damage to Mayixhale Road occur every few months, inconveniencing motorists, threatening their safety and causing damage to municipal property, which must be repaired continually.

Police are investigating a case of public violence and the municipality laid a complaint of damage to municipal property after the latest incident. The cases were opened on 28 August.

KwaNonqaba Community Policing Forum chairman Shadrack Shishana said: "The forum is unhappy with what was done by members of the informal settlement community."

Shishana said the shack community was angry that it was not receiving electricity from the municipality.

Municipal spokesperson Nickey le Roux said: "There were attempts to connect illegal electricity extensions to the municipal electricity supply.

'Removed'
"The municipality has removed illegal electrical connections and will continue to do so, not only in Mayixhale Road, but wherever illegal connections are evident in the greater Mossel Bay area."

She said no one had officially engaged with the municipality regarding obtaining free electricity, so she surmised it might have been assumption or speculation that people may have been demanding free electricity.

"The municipality reminds residents of the Indigent Policy that allows qualifying residents an amount of free electricity and other subsidised services and urges residents to apply for these benefits."

Bricks strewn by demonstrators.