BY REGINALD KANYANE
FOURTEEN people are expected to appear in Taung Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They were arrested on Wednesday morning after they allegedly embarked on protest in Choseng village, near Pudimoe.
Pudimoe Police Station spokesperson, Sgt Tebogo Thebe said they have arrested fourteen people after they barricaded N18 road with burning tyres and stones.
“They embarked on illegitimate protest and barricaded N18 road between Vryburg and Taung with burning tyres and stones. We urge our communities to engage with law enforcement before embarking on illegal strike.
“They need to follow correct channels and stop taking the law into their own hands. We have charged them with contravening gathering act, public violence and damage to properties,” Thebe said.
The community said they embarked on a strike because they do not want the newly-elected councillor, Lopang Tokwe. One of Choseng community leaders, Sinah Letlhogela said: “We do not want Tokwe as our councillor. We elected Peter Moetsi as independent candidate. However, ANC plotted his downfall and that resulted in Moetsi losing against Tokwe during recent local government elections that took place in August 3.
“We conjecture why all councillors come from Matlapaneng village though? This is the fourth consecutive councillor coming out of Matlapaneng village. We want to know if we do not have proficient and competent people from our village who could become councillors,” Letlhogela lamented.
Letlhogela added that they submitted their enquiries to ANC regional structure in Dr Ruth Mompati region.
However, ANC Regional coordinator in Dr Ruth Mompati, Pontsho Kgosieng said they have received Choseng community’s memorandum. He said they will meet on Thursday as the PEC structure in the region to tackle issues raised by the community.
He lambasted the community’s actions after they chased their ward councillor, Lopang Tokwe out of the village on Tuesday.
“We need to educate our people how politics work. They have raised various issues and we will address them. However, we request tranquility in the area. Our people need to accept the outcome of the local government elections. Even though they do not approve the winner, according to chapter 7, the ward was won by ANC and we are expected to provide basic service delivery to the area,” he said.
Kgosieng said some of opposition parties might impel the community to fight the ANC councillor just to hinder the developments in the area.
TaungDailyNews 