Meanwhile, residents not partaking in the protests, have pleaded with protest organisers to discontinue the shutdown as shops and other government departments in the area has been closed since the violent protests started.

One of the residents, Lerato Motaung, says her family is planning a funeral this weekend and worries that other family members will not be able to enter the area due to closed roads. 

Furthermore, angry residents are also demanding that the executive mayor, Masetjhaba Mosia-Lakaje, step down. 

Speaking to OFM News, the shutdown organiser, Scotch Sikhosana, says they have called upon the Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Thembeni Nxangisa, and the delegates from the national level to meet them this afternoon at the University of the Free State's Qwaqwa campus in order to sort out the problems that led to a shutdown.

Meanwhile, police are visible in the area to ensure that residents are not vandalising property.

OFM News previously reported that the shutdown comes after 8-year-old Mosa Mbele drowned in a local river this past weekend while she and her 10-year-old brother was sent to fetch water.

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha