The South African Police Service in Rankin’s Pass in the Modimolle Cluster have on 13 August, arrested three suspects aged 23, 24 and 38, following acts of public violence that erupted since Monday 12 August 2019, which resulted in the torching of farms and a councillor’s house at Alma village.
The police responded to an incident where community members were protesting. On arrival, the roads have already been barricaded with burning tyres by the chanting protests which made it difficult for motorists to make use the road. When the police arrived, three women were arrested after they were linked to the public violence.
The community later in the day, mobilised again and set alight four farms, a house of a councillor and a Municipal office. The police rushed to the scene but on arrival the buildings were already burned to ashes.
More reinforcement from the Public Order Police and the Cluster members were summoned to the area and the situation was brought under control.
The local municipality was also engaged and the Mayor and his representatives had addressed the community’s grievances over service delivery.
The three suspects that were arrested for public violence, Matlala Kailina Lechelele aged 38, Mmetja Lisbeth Makua aged 23 and Johanna Dreca Moloantoa aged 24, have appeared in Modimolle magistrate’s court.They were all released on warning and will appear again in the same court on 5 September 2019, while police investigations are still continuing.
The Police are still tracing more suspects involved in the public violence and those involved in the arson incidents and appeal to anyone with information that can lead to their arrest, to contact Rankin’s Pass Police Station at 014 721 0611, the crime stop number 0860010111or the nearest police station.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has condemned in the strongest possible terms the violent nature as manifested by the community at Alma and has urged everyone in the area to respect the rule of the law by staging peaceful protests.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
Massive losses as angry protesters burn farms, Alma, Limpopo
