Govt wants to silence us - Vuwani community
The community of Vuwani in Limpopo has accused government of deploying police in the area as a means to silence them.
Some residents resolved to continue with plans to boycott Wednesday's national elections following what they perceive to be a lack of intervention by the government.
"But as for now the situation is calm. We've told our comrades that they are a big contingency of police who are very much prepared to go to war with us as another way of suppressing our voice by the government,” says Pro-Makhado Group spokesperson, Arnold Mulaudzi.
On Tuesday the community gathered at the Vuwani stadium awaiting the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zweli Mkhize to address their concerns.
But Mulaudzi says the minister was a no-show.
The protest is over the incorporation of the area into the Collins Chabane Municipality.
"We had a meeting, after that meeting we had to disperse the people after realising around 12 that there's no one from government that is going to come and address the people of Vuwani.
"We have resolved to continue with our shutdown until such time that us the people of Vuwani are taken seriously and someone from government comes to their midst and address on the way forward."
Mulaudzi says the decision not to vote was taken collectively by the community.
"This is the decision of the people whom themselves they have taken a decision that we are not going to participate. It's not like there's someone who's forcing not to participate but it's themselves who took that decision, it's the people themselves."
The department could not comment on the matter.