Staff Reporter
Organisers of the Mangaung shutdown have distanced themselves from the violence which marred Monday’s citywide protests saying it was the work of criminal elements who hijacked a genuine community activity.
Mangaung Community Concern representative Temba Zweni says the group did not organise any marches and all the people who took to the streets barricading roads with burning tyres and rubble and beat up people were not part of their planned protest.
“Some people just decided they should march, and they started marching,” Zweni told The Free Stater.
“That’s why they did not even have a memorandum. We actually had to go and stop that march because we said we would do that.
“Some people just got excited and angry and decided to march. If we were to have a march, we would have organised marshals for crowd control, paramedics and all that.”
Zweni said Mangaung Community Concern was against the violence perpetrated by some residents yesterday saying those were criminals trying to take over a peaceful protest.
“We have noticed that there are some groups of opportunists or maybe anarchists who are going into shops owned by foreigners and looting them,” he said.
“We disassociate ourselves from such activities and plead with our residents to remain calm.
“We plead with them to protest peacefully and stay focused on the issues we have raised with the municipality.
“We view those people looting as criminals and, as such, we have spoken with the police that any criminal matters, they must deal with them.
“We don’t have the capacity to deal with crime.”
A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed by a security guard after a group of people tried to loot a warehouse in Mangaung.
An employee of Mangaung Metro had his car torched by unknown men after he was stopped and ordered out of his vehicle at gunpoint while on his way to work.
According to the police, three males hijacked the vehicle but left the driver unharmed in Heidedal.
A few minutes later it was set on fire.
Dozens of people are believed to have been arrested for various crimes and are expected to appear in court soon.
Mangaung Community Concern called for the shutdown to force the municipality to improve service delivery and offer better business and employment opportunities to residents.