The streets of Mashishing, Mpumalanga, are littered with police trucks scouring the area for rioters in what has escalated into a turbulent situation in the Lydenburg township.
Mashishing unrest continues: Here’s the latest
After weeks of picketing, Mashishing residents finally received a notice from the Thaba Chewu Municipality stating that mayor Fridah Nkadimeng was ready to hold a symposium at a stadium in the township, on Wednesday.
This comes after a night of clashes with police, where a Shoprite U-Save outlet was burned to the ground.
09/03/2021 @ 20H00#RIOTS#VANDALISM#ARSON
— RIOT & ATTACK info South Africa (@RiotAndAttackSA) March 9, 2021
LYDENBURG / MASHISHING:
U-SAVE SET ALIGHT BY OUT OF HAND CRIMINALS.
WARNING:
INFO RECEIVED THAT LYDENBURG TOWN WILL BE CLOSED OFF TOTALY ALL DIRECTIONS. PROTESTERS WANT TO START AT GRASKOP AND SABIE TOMORROW MORNING AS WELL. pic.twitter.com/xzZDLuxJp5
Large crowds gathered at the venue the next morning and, surprisingly, Nkadimeng was a no-show. This infuriated locals who made their way to her residence, threatening to haul her out.
10/03/2021 – 12.00 – #Lydenburg / #Mashisheng – Breaking News: After a NO SHOW by the Mayor, #Protesters are leaving the venue, our reporters says that the protesters are heading to the Mayor's house to personally fetch her.
— SA emergency reports (@MARIUSBROODRYK) March 10, 2021
This is a developing story. pic.twitter.com/xaJd3lzNiJ
Protesters burned rubber, tyres and rubble, blocking all traffic from using the roads. As plumes of thick, black smoke permeated the air, a squadron of police trucks swarmed the area.
Betogers het vanoggend ook in #Sabie teen Thaba Chweu-munisipaliteit begin #protes. Geweldadige betogings woed al sedert Donderdag teen die plaaslike owerheid in #Lydenburg en Mashishing. Volgens berigte is Sabie bereikbaar. ‘n Optog na die munisipale kantore is onderweg. pic.twitter.com/w81tM6d8lG
— Radio Laeveld100.5FM (@radio_laeveld) March 10, 2021
Mayor Nkadimeng comes out of the hole to face locals
The unrest went on for the entire morning and finally, after an extended delay, Nkadimeng surfaced, escorted by armed police.
LYDENBURG/MASHISHING
— RIOT & ATTACK info South Africa (@RiotAndAttackSA) March 10, 2021
Mayor just arrived She is in the police Casper and some young stars brought the mayor's husband Mr Frans Nkadimeng. Apparently the meeting is no longer at the stadium but on the road. pic.twitter.com/EzxSJ5kS02
At the time this article was published, the mayor had been engaged in fiery talks with the Mashishing community.
The residents are calling for the entire Thaba Chewu council to be dissolved, along with Nkadimeng. A memorandum of demands was submitted by the community’s leadership which deal with a number of service delivery issues.