Violent protests broke out for the second day in Ventersburg, Free State, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, disrupting traffic on a crucial N1 route.
Ventersburg protests: N1 route closed and these latest updates
Public order police had their hands full trying to restore law and order in Ventersburg, on Wednesday morning.
Large crowds gathered near the Caltex Starstop Sulla Via petrol station, armed with rocks and blunt objects, to face off with police stationed near the N1 exit, which, on Tuesday, was barricaded.
While every attempt was made to clear a way for traffic to move between the crucial Ventersburg N1 route, the video below shows how police, clearly outnumbered, were forced to retreat from the Mmamahabane bridge.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Free State police spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng confirmed the Ventersburg protests were linked to service delivery issues.
“On the 16 May 2023 at about 14:30 angry residents of Mmamahabane walked to the office of the Municipality demanding water. When they did not get any response then they barricaded the N1 road,” Capt. Thakeng said.
While Ventersburg protests were ongoing when this article was published, motorists in the area are advised to avoid Pienaar Street until police restore law and order in the area.
Capt. Thakeng confirmed several law enforcement units are at the scene “to control the crowd.”
“A case of Public Violence has been registered for further investigation and nobody has been arrested thus far,” he said.
Security group Crisis24 issued an all-points bulletin to Ventersburg motorists, warning that “road travel disruptions and delays are likely, especially along the N1 and the nearby R70.”
“Make use of alternative routes if traveling in the area. Do not drive through protest roadblocks. Heed the advice of security personnel. Allow additional time to reach destinations near affected areas,” the security group warned.