Police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, says there is unrest not only in Jouberton township in Klerksdorp but also in Hartbeesfontein, Khuma and Kanana near Orkney, as well as Ikageng – located outside Potchefstroom. He says instances of looting have been reported and arrests have been made. The number thereof he cannot confirm as of yet. This comes after OFM presenter and Jouberton resident, Alucius Mocumi, said residents had barricaded roads in the township with rocks and fencing taken from shops they looted from. Mocumi adds the shops were also looted, but some of the shop owners had already stored their stock away from their shops after being tipped off about possible unrest. Mocumi says he was threatened by community members when he tried to take pictures and video of the chaos. Mokgwabone says police are in the area, monitoring the situation. He says they are appealing to community members “to refrain from damaging property and committing crimes because what we are seeing now is sheer criminality”, he says it is not what people initially said they were fighting for.

Mokgwabone says the North West Province was relatively quiet yesterday evening, up until protests started springing up again.

He told OFM News earlier today the provincial joint operational and intelligence structure, established to ensure there is calm in the province, is in place. Mokgwabone said he would be able to provide a full update on the situation of protest actions across the province at a later stage.

North West traffic officials are diverting traffic on the N12 between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom at the bridge to go via the Wolmaranstad Road, in light of the protest action on the road.

OFM News