Kabelo Tlhabanelo
Matjhabeng Municipality in the Free State became the victims of vandalism right after the mines were shut down.
Spokesperson, Kgojane Matutle, said they are sitting on a time bomb with over 200,000 unemployed people and a municipality vandalised by the hungry.
The recent attacks happened at the council offices but not only are government offices targeted, graves and fences were not spared.
Matutle said they are seeing new attacks every day with the municipality having to spend millions to replace the vandalised structures.
“An empty stomach is very dangerous. We have more than 30,000 foreigners coming to look for work. When you come out of your yard, there is always someone waiting there to ask for food.”
He said the problem started after about twenty gold shafts which also housed staff were closed.
Resident Tshepo Rapulana from Virginia said the increasing number of copper theft incidents are not helping.
“We are fighting load shedding but when the situation improves we experience power cuts due to theft. We are planning to relocate from this municipality.”
Nonki Sebotsa from Welkom said people are stealing to survive.
“Sometimes thieves only steal food from the pots and from the fridge. This shows they are hungry,” she said.
Recently the police managed to arrest four suspects who allegedly planned a house robbery in Riebeeckstad.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said a vehicle with four occupants was stopped and searched and a revolver with no live ammunition was found.
“The four suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms,” said Makhele.
