Vuwani voter registration protests disrupt schooling
Schooling was disrupted on Monday in Vuwani, in Limpopo, where residents boycotted voter registration at the weekend, police said.
"There is no schooling taking place in the area, shops are also closed, but as police we are monitoring all the key points and road that link Elim and Malamulele," said Vuwani police spokesman warrant officer Elaijah Malatji.
Community members have been protesting because they are opposed to their area being included in a new municipality. The protests, that have often turned violent, culminated in a boycott of registration in the area.
Protesters have been involved in running battles with the police at Ha-Masakona, where a house, owned by a person thought to support demarcation into the new municipality, was set alight. Huge stones and burning tyres were used to barricade many streets in the area.
Police said eight people were arrested for public violence, malicious damage to property and violating the Road Traffic Act. The arrested protesters were expected to appear in court as soon, said Malatji.
At the weekend protesters repeatedly blocked the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) plan to register new voters in the area as they demand that government first reverse its decision to include their area in the new municipality.
Community leader Alex Ndou said only one voting station at Ekurhuleni opened and a "few people" registered.
Ndou said other registration centres were opened, under the police watch, but residents did not participate.
The IEC could not be immediately reached for comment, but they were expected to issue an update on voter registration later Monday.
On Monday the protesters, apparently upset by the arrest of school going children, disrupted schooling in the area. - ANA