Three arrested for Malamulele protests

"Three suspects were arrested late yesterday afternoon, into the early evening, for contraventions of sections of several acts," Colonel Ronel Otto said.

 

The suspects would be charged with contravening sections of the Riotous Assemblies Act, the South African Schools Act, and the Gatherings Act.

 

"They will face charges of incitement, intimidation," Otto said.

 

Police arrested the suspects following ongoing investigations.

 

They were expected to appear in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court on Friday.

 

There has been ongoing violence in Malamulele in recent weeks where residents have been demanding their own municipality.

 

The Municipal Demarcation Board announced in January that Malamulele did not qualify for its own municipality.

 

Protests erupted in the area last year before the May general elections, and re-ignited more than a month ago with residents demanding their own municipality.

 

Residents claim the Thulamela municipality has been channelling services to Tshivenda-speaking areas, rather than their own, which is dominated by Xitsonga speakers.

 

On Monday, Malamulele residents called off the six-week long protest.

 

Otto confirmed that no new incidents had been reported in the area.

 

"Now it's still quiet, no incidents or protests," she said.