Team to report back on Ventersdorp protests

Monday, October 15, 2018

North West Premier Professor Job Mokgoro has sent a team to Ventersdorp to find lasting solutions following protests in the area.

The team comprises all heads of provincial government departments and will be working on the area located in the JB Marks Local Municipality to interact with various stakeholders.

“The Premier’s decision to send in heads of departments and other senior government officials is to enable them to do an assessment of the community’s demands and to find lasting solutions to the issues that the community raised with both the municipality and the provincial government,” said the Premier’s spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi.

The delegation will engage community leaders and representative, business, organised civic structures and other relevant stakeholders.

These engagements will enable the team to prepare a comprehensive report for Mokgoro detailing grievances raised and possible solutions to the situation.

“This report will enable the Premier to announce appropriate intervention measures in Ventersdorp, based on a consultation process that would have taken place between the heads of departments and stakeholders from the community,” said Ngesi.

The delegation is expected to report to the Premier as soon as they have completed their visits to Ventersdorp.

Last week, 11 people arrested in connection with protests in the areas appeared in court, where they were granted bail.

Media reported that they were arrested following protests that saw the closure of businesses while traffic flow was also disrupted.

Last month, the Premier called for calm while also condemning acts of violence that broke out in neighbouring town Klerksdorp.

At the time, incidents of public violence in Klerksdorp were sparked by the killing of a local taxi driver, whose body was found with two stab wounds. – SAnews.gov.za