Over a dozen buses torched in Mamelodi
Protests have flared up in Tshwane over the ANC’s decision to put Thoko Didiza as its mayoral candidate.
JOHANNESBURG - The violent protests in Tshwane have spread to Atteridgville this evening, as an angry group has set over a dozen buses alight and blocked the main entrance into the township with rocks and burning tyres.
Reports suggest entrances into Atteridgeville, the current Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa's home town, are blocked with burning tyres and rocks.
Protests have flared up in the city over the African National Congress (ANC)'s decision to put forward Thoko Didiza as its mayoral candidate.
Putco Bus Comapny has retracted its earlier statement that 20 of its buses have been burnt and have revised their number to two.
Putco spokesperson Tshepo Tsotsotso said, "Some of our buses have been affected in Mamelodi and we are still quantifying the damage. This means our passengers may be affected tomorrow."
The bus company says it's working with law enforcement to ensure its buses and passengers are safe on the morning commute tomorrow.
At the same time, Prasa has confirmed their buses are among those burnt during the violent protests in Tshwane but cannot give an exact number as yet.
All entrances into #mamelodi are blocked by burning buses @enca @MyAnc #Tshwane pic.twitter.com/sG7BRWuppv
- Peter Kotlolo (@Dozaamrepa01) June 20, 2016
Thoko Didiza, this is how Tswane welcome the decision pic.twitter.com/dtla8KYE41
- Amukelani (@Cde_Amulet) June 20, 2016
Now in Mamelodi, they are burning Putco busses. Tsamaya is closed down. Where's @TshwaneANC in the middle of this?? pic.twitter.com/5oSxWO0gta
- Solly Msimanga (@SollyMsimanga) June 20, 2016
PRASA busses burning in Mamelodi. Will the ANC ever call it's members to order. This can't continue pic.twitter.com/navJKwsHyI
- Solly Msimanga (@SollyMsimanga) June 20, 2016
CRIMINAL CONDUCT
The ANC has urged the authorities to deal decisively with any person engaged in violence in Tshwane.
A Tshwane Metro Police car was flipped on its roof in Arcadia, a municipal vehicle vanadalised and buses torched in Mamelodi, and streets are being blocked with burning debris in Atteridgeville.
The party's Zizi Kodwa says the police should deal with people who engage in criminal conduct.
"If they are thinking all that is being done, the violence and so on, is done in the name of the ANC; it's done for individual interests and therefore law enforcement must be deal with it."
He says this does not warrant political intervention.
"It has nothing to do with the ANC when people burn tyres, destruction of property, people shoot one another and so on - that is not political activism, its criminal activism."
Kodwa urged members to accept the decision surrounding Tshwane mayoral candidate.
Meanwhile, images coming out of Mamelodi show the Stanza Bopape Clinic also on fire.
Stanza Bopape clinic in mamelodi on fire TONIGHT... @POWER987News pic.twitter.com/LX1ZPhGdmX
- Denzil Taylor (@DenzilTaylor) June 20, 2016
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