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Vuwani protests: City Press car attacked

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Vuwani. Picture: Lucky Nxumalo/City Press/File
Vuwani. Picture: Lucky Nxumalo/City Press/File
Violent protests have erupted in Vyeboom village, next to Vuwani in Limpopo, where police are hard at work trying to disperse a crowd that had been stoning passing vehicles on the road from Elim to Malamulele.

A police helicopter hovering above wasn’t much of a deterrent as protesters continued pelting cars and police Nyalas. Two Nyalas were earlier seen driving back and forth as police officers struggled to contain the situation when a large mob ran towards Vyeboom crossroads with stones.

Protesters pushed back into the village as police fired rubber bullets at them, only to return as soon as the Nyalas turned towards the other direction.

Some protesters were stoning cars from behind the bushes along the main road. This is where a City Press car came under attack from a group of men, who emerged from behind the bushes as I drove towards Vuwani town.

They came out throwing big stones at the car, leaving several dents and a rear right passenger window shattered. Several other vehicles were also damaged.

The situation remained volatile.

Vyeboom had not been accessible due to barricades and trenches dug in the roads leading into the village.

It was not known what suddenly triggered the violence but some of the residents said police had raided the houses overnight and some people were arrested.

Police spokesperson Colonel Ronel Otto said she was not aware of any arrests made in the Vuwani area overnight.

Meanwhile, the Vuwani demarcation case – which is the reason for the unrest – could soon be back in court for appeal.

City Press was reliably told by one of the Venda chiefs that a decision was taken by traditional leaders to take the matter back to court.

Vuwani residents lost a high court bid last month to have their area reinstated under the Makhado Municipality. They had applied to have the Municipal Demarcation Board’s decision to incorporate their area into a new municipality set aside.

Traditional leaders were planning to make an announcement on their decision to go back to court soon.

Their decision came after a marathon of meetings with an inter-ministerial team led by State Security Minister David Mahlobo in government’s attempt to restore calm in Vuwani. Mahlobo and the team have been working tirelessly in the area since last week. 
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