Pretoria - North West Premier Thandi Modise has appealed for calm after a teenager was allegedly shot dead by a tavern owner during violent protests in Christiana near Bloemhof on Wednesday afternoon.
It is alleged that the 14-year-old boy was part of a rioting mob that was approaching the tavern owner’s premises, with the view to loot after several shops were looted and a community hall torched in the area. The tavern owner is reportedly in police custody.
“We are saddened that the life of a person so young was cut short under such unfortunate circumstances and wish to convey our condolences to the family that lost their loved one. Though the death opens fresh wounds of loss of lives we have experienced during violent protests in our province, we are appealing for calm,” Premier Modise said.
“Everything has to be done to normalise the situation, prevent destruction of private and public properties and loss of lives.”
The premier will lead the Provincial Executive Council (Exco) intervention task team visit for an engagement with protestors in Boitumelong township near Bloemhof today.
The Lekwa-Teemane municipal office, community halls in Boitumelong and Coverdale townships, five houses belonging to the mayor, two councillors and two officials and several businesses were torched since violence erupted in the past week in the area.
Despite several provincial government engagements and a commitment to investigate allegations of corruption and nepotism levelled against the Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality, violence has not abated as protestors are adamant that the embattled municipality should be dissolved. - SAnews.gov.za
