Law enforcement agencies were deployed to contain protestors and prevent possible damage to infrastructure.

The small town of Petrusburg has recently been in the spotlight due to service delivery protests.

ALSO READ: Unrest continues in Free State town

On Monday, during the shutdown residents, including children, took to the streets once more to express their dissatisfaction at the lack of services in the area. 

It's alleged that police arrested and assaulted some teenagers while attempting to ensure that order is maintained. An emotional 17-year-old boy shared his experience with OFM News after his injuries were tended to at the local clinic. 

"I was on my way home from the area called Nkuleko when a police vehicle stopped next to me. A policeman got out of the vehicle and slapped me. When I tried to ask why he was slapping me, he immediately strangled me, put me in the back of the police vehicle and drove off to the library's office. 

"When we got there, he took me out of the vehicle and a group of police officers started to kick me. When I asked them what did I do, they responded by saying I was part of a group involved in the shutdown.

"I was surprised and asked, me? They responded by saying that I swore at them and then they kicked me in my private parts and continued to assault me. One of the police officers hit me with a brick in the head and on my back. 

“I was then taken to the police station and told to clean up the cells. A police officer sprayed sanitizer on my injured back and slapped me again while I was cleaning the cells and told me to tell them the names of people involved in a shutdown.

"I told him I didn't know because I was not part of it. Despite telling them I was in pain, the police forced me to clean the cells. They released me after that," he said.

ALSO READ: Total shutdown planned in Petrusburg

He went to the clinic for medical attention and later tried to open a case at the station, but police refused and informed him and his sister to bring along a parent.

OFM News was later informed that a case had not been opened despite the presence of his parents. It's alleged that police officers at the station bullied children along with parents who attempted to open cases of assault at the station.

OFM News is waiting for a response from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

OFM News