The four were arrested following allegations that they were holding Sedibeng Water clients hostage on the service provider’s premises. Bothaville police spokesperson,Steven Thakeng, says the four were arrested on Thursday and appeared at the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were then granted R500 bail each and are expected to appear in court again on 16 January 2017.

"Yesterday, at around 10 in the morning, the Sedibeng Water’s employees arrived there, picketing at the gate. They allowed vehicles to enter but ultimately, they stopped every car- no cars were allowed to enter or come out and that’s when we intervened to try and negotiate with them."

Thakeng says the SAPS only intervened because the employees held clients of Sedibeng Water hostage. He says that as part of their strike, the employees would let Sedibeng Water clients enter the premises but would not let them exit. The employees demanded that their memorandum be handed over to the CEO, who was, however, unavailable. Sedibeng Water could not be reached for further comment.

Pulane Choane/OFM News