Schools feel wrath of angry Vuwani protesters

Vuwani police said that anarchy and mayhem continued overnight as demarcation protesters set alight the thirteenth school in the area.

Vuwani - Anarchy and mayhem continued overnight as Vuwani demarcation protesters continued to set alight schools in the area – at the latest count 13 schools had been set alight, police said on Wednesday morning.

As a result of attacks on schools, learning has come to a halt in Vuwani area.

For the third day running, protesters have barricaded roads, stoned passing cars and battled riot police. Several vehicles, a post office and a tribal office were also set alight.

“Nine more schools were burnt at Levubu and Vuwani by last night [Tuesday]. This brings the total number of schools completely gutted to 13 in these areas. Three others were partially damaged, no arrests have been made yet,” said Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

Disgruntled Vuwani residents set alight several schools shortly after community leaders announced that they had lost a high court battle to have their area excluded from the new municipality in Malamulele, Limpopo.

Vuwani residents had launched a high court bid following an announcement by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) in 2014 that one municipality in Limpopo’s Vhembe district would be demarcated to fall under the Malamulele municipality.

Residents said that they wanted to remain under the Makhado municipality and argued that they were duped in understanding that the MDB consultation only meant that Mutale would be dissolved thereby enhancing existing villages.

A Limpopo High Court on Friday ruled against the Vuwani community’s application against the MDB’s decision to include their villages in the new municipality.

Ledwaba said the situation was tense on Wednesday as protesters blocked some of the roads in the villages. Police were monitoring the violent-torn areas.

African News Agency