Last night, 15 stores were vandalised and looted in Villiersdorp following major protests in the area.
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As per a statement by the Theewaterskloof Municipality, about 200 protesters gathered in Villiersdorp yesterday morning, blocking entrances to the upper town area and disrupting traffic.
Theewaterskloof law enforcement services and the local traffic department, along with SAPS Villiersdorp and the Public Order Police Service (POPS), enforced crowd control. ‘It is currently fruit picking season, and the protest action has a direct impact on farm workers who are unable to leave on busses to their respective farms when there is unrest in the area,’ says Wilfred Schrevian Evan Solomons-Johannes, acting municipal manager.
‘Due to our swift response, we have been able to protect the agricultural industry and ensure that busses are able to leave the area. We will not tolerate any disruption to this important sector of our economy as agriculture remains one of the biggest drivers of economic activity in the Theewaterskloof Municipal area as well as the greater Overberg District area.’
Executive Mayor Alderman Karel Papier and members of the Theewaterskloof’s Human Settlements Department met with community leaders to discuss their grievances, which included service delivery expectations and housing challenges. Although an agreement was reached, and a date for a public meeting was set, a different crowd gathered at around 6pm last night and assaulted enforcement agencies with stones.
During the unrest, which lasted until early this morning, 15 stores were looted and vandalised. A heavy presence of SAPS Villiersdorp, POPS and Theewaterskloof law enforcement officers was needed to prevent protesters from entering the CBD.
Law enforcement remains in the area to monitor the situation.
A public meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at the Resource Centre.
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