By Tladi Moloi
At least one person died and four others were injured in a violent clash between the public and a gang of alleged drug dealers that erupted in Bethlehem in the Free State on Monday.
Scrolla.Africa has been informed that a 39-year-old male was hacked to death in a confrontation between the community members of Bohlokong and the alleged bodyguards of a notorious drug dealer.
Four others were rushed to hospital for minor injuries that they sustained from rubber bullets shot by the police to disperse the violent scenes.
The violence began when the community of Bohlokong and Barken Park gathered on Monday morning for a “shutdown” against rising levels of crime and drugs in the area.
The group marched to confront the alleged local drug kingpin who is known to the community as “Tshele”.
However, when the community arrived at his place of residence, in Captain Charles informal settlement, they were awaited by the group of armed men said mostly to be made up of Lesotho nationals.
By one eyewitness’s count, there were 32 men awaiting the angry mob.
It was in October last year when the angry community went on to burn three foreigners’ tuck-shops, as well as a house and cars during the unrest, fighting for the same issue.
Mahadi Mashinini, a community leader, told Scrolla.Africa that the group informed the police before confronting the kingpin.
“I personally spoke to the police in the morning, asking them to come with the community to a drug dealer’s place but they told me that they were afraid to go there because they were told that person has got armed bodyguards,” she said.
She said they were disappointed by this and resolved to confront the alleged kingpin alone.
She said about 32 armed men whom she suspected were Lesotho citizens were waiting for them from outside the house and attacked them as they tried to approach their boss.
“We are not going to stop fighting until our town is crime and drug free,” she said.
Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, the Corporate Communication and Liaison in the Provincial Office, confirmed that a person has died and added that seven people have been arrested for public violence.
“The situation is tense and Public Order Police are patrolling the streets to maintain order,” he said.
