riot – praag.org

Station in Paarl, S. Africa burnt down by raging black mob

The Mbekweni station in Paarl near Cape Town was the latest to be burnt down in ongoing black rioting in South Africa. A violent protest erupted in the nearby black township on Thursday night and spread to the station. On Friday morning there were scorch marks in offices at the terminal and on the tracks, as well as rocks scattered across the station.

According to eye witnesses, an angry mob of blacks descended on the terminal on Thursday night, ripping apart its tin roof and setting fire to tyres on its tracks and in its offices, closing off the railway until late on Friday morning.

However, the rioters were not angry with railway company, according to Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott.

“Protesters evidently took issue with their local authority about the provision of electricity and vented their dissatisfaction by rampaging at the station.”

On Thursday night police found themselves in a tense stand-off as residents barricaded roads and threw stones.

A group stormed the train station, reducing the inside to rubble as they smashed walls, stormed into the station’s offices and set fire to tyres.

Scott said fire teams were unable to get into the area to quell the flames.

“Due to the volatility in the area, fire services were unable to assist. Asset owner Transnet and rail operator Metrorail have also not been able to assess the extent of the damage to the infrastructure,” said Scott.

The tracks were reopened on Friday morning for normal service. Residents milled around, watching as police arrived to cordon off the station’s main building at around 9am. Many were waiting for trains which were no longer stopping at the township.

Regional manager Richard Walker condemned the attack: “It is inexcusable to destroy assets that serve a law-abiding citizenry reliant on the rail service – this is sheer criminal thuggery. SAPS will continue to monitor the situation and will advise Metrorail when it is safe to resume train services in the area. A Metrorail team will visit the area again later on Friday morning to assess the damage and plan the restoration of the service.”

The protest in Mbekweni in Paarl added to recent train delays. Over the past 10 days Metrorail has had 938 delays to its trains. Scott said these could be attributed to two major incidents exacerbated by vandalism and cable theft.

South Africa has a whole army of copper thieves that steal cables to sell them as scrap metal. The Pretoria station, a historical monument, was also burnt down a few years ago when trains arrived late after copper cables along the railway had been stolen.

Black mob attacks, strips white family home bare on West Rand

by Riaan van Zyl

Residents’ greatest fear came true on the evening of 18 January when rioters turned on private property.

One such resident in South Road, René Scheepers (40) and her three children were getting ready for bed at approximately 10pm when rocks started flying through the windows of the house. She immediately contacted the Witpoortjie Neighbourhood Watch who in turn contacted a nyala (police armoured vehicle) patrolling the area.

The rock-pelting attack was so intense that the nyala could not access Scheepers’ property. In the meanwhile she and her children locked themselves in a room.

Only at approximately 3am on Sunday 19 January the nyala got access to the house and evacuated the family. As soon as they left the protesters went on the rampage in the house stripping it of everything moveable such as jewellery, furniture, electric appliances, expensive crockery and even the children’s schoolbags. Scheepers’ family came the next morning to save what was left.

Scheepers has indicated that out of fear she will not move back to the house. She currently is residing with family.

A lot of questions has been raised about the SAPS and JMPD’s lack of pro-active policing in the ongoing protests. – Roodepoort Record

Riot in France after Muslim veil check

Muslim rioters threw rocks and set fires following a police check of a completely veiled woman in Trappes, a western suburb of Paris, newspaper Le Parisien reported Saturday.

The gathering of 200 to 400 people became “violent” at about 8:30 pm (1830 GMT) Friday, the report said. The mob vandalized a bus shelter and set refuse bins on fire.

Two police officers were injured, a police union spokesman said. An unconfirmed report said that one boy was injured and rushed to hospital.

Police surrounded their station with emergency vehicles to protect it from the rioters.

The mob in the town of 30,000, 30 kilometres from central Paris, was angered by the arrest of a 21-year-old man on Thursday, who attacked a police officer after objecting to a police check of his fully veiled wife.

In France, the wearing of burqas and other veils in public is prohibited. – dpa

Riot in Hendrina as ‘protestors’ burn down police station and loot shops

Hendrina in the Eastern Transvaal (present 'Mpumalanga') — Hendrina in the Eastern Transvaal (present ‘Mpumalanga’)

A furious mob of more than 1 000 people went on a violent rampage in the township of KwaZamokuhle in Hendrina on Sunday – threatening violence against Mayor Mike Masina and other Councillors whom they blockaded at the community stadium for almost 30 minutes.

But this was not before they stoned the Mayor’s vehicle and interrupted his speech in which he addressed several concerns raised by KwaZamokuhle residents about a week earlier regarding service delivery. The residents are demanding among others a mall, a hospital and a clinic.

Shortly after Mayor Masina and Councillors were provided safe passage by the Hendrina SAPS and left the area, the angry mob went on to burn a library, satellite police station and community hall.

These Ethiopian shop keepers claim to have lost everything

The residents also burnt shops belonging to foreign nationals on Sunday night. Mostly Ethiopian shop owners were affected. They stated that at least 30 of their businesses were completely looted.

“Our walls were broken down with sledgehammers. We fled for our lives. Every single item was stolen – even chappies. Fridges were unplugged and carried away,” said Ethiopian national Ayele Abush.

Just over 50 Ethiopians are currently being accommodated at the local police station – most of whom claim that they’ve not a single cent left in their pocket. Hendrina police spokesperson, David Mbenekazi, said five people have been detained on allegations of arson, public violence and malicious damage to property They are yet to be formally charged.

“The investigation is ongoing and we expect to make more arrests during the course of the week,” he said.

• The residents of Kwazamokuhle held a protest march to Hendrina Municipal buildings on 10 June 2013 to hand over a memorandum to Mayor Masina – but he was not present to receive it and this infuriated the protestors.

Angry residents made some serious threats towards the Mayor’s office as they waited for two hours for him to arrive – only to be informed that he was in a meeting in Nelspruit. Protestors dispersed and went back home. The following Friday, on 14 June 2013, residents blocked the Arnot – Hendrina road, burnt tyres and stoned vehicles. A Police task force was called in to help subdue the unrest and 37 people were arrested on charges of public violence.

Black clouds of smoke could be seen for miles around Kwazamokuhle. Three people were taken to hospital to be treated for rubber bullet wounds they sustained during the protest.

The people of Kwazamokuhle and Hendrina want a Police Station in Kwazamokuhle, a 24 hour Clinic and English Medium Schools – all before the 2014 elections. – looklocal

300 Burn tyres and rubbish in Durban

Burning tyres, a regular occurrence in South Africa

About 200 people were protesting on Umgeni and Alpine Roads in Durban on Thursday morning, eThekwini metro police said.

The protesters were burning rubbish and tyres, spokesperson Eugene Msomi said.

“The roads have been closed as we are waiting for the fire department,” he said.

Msomi said it was believed the people were protesting over service delivery. – Sapa

Riot in Boksburg: 49 arrested

Forty-nine people were arrested in Windmill Park, Boksburg, on Monday for public violence and malicious damage to property, Ekurhuleni metro police said.

Inspector Khobeli Mokheseng said the protesters, aged between 20 and 51, allegedly stoned a metro police vehicle and attacked two metro police officers who arrived at the scene first.

“When one of the officers got out of the vehicle to try and talk sense to them, one of them stole the car keys from the ignition.”

A man fled with the keys, while the rest of the protesters hurled stones at the vehicle.

The officer sustained slight injuries to his hand.

Residents of the Holomisa informal settlement barricaded roads with burning tyres and rocks on Monday morning. Barry Marais and Trichardt roads were closed to traffic.

It was not immediately clear what the cause of the protest was.

Mokheseng said on Monday afternoon that the protesters had dispersed.

Those arrested would be detained at the Dawn Park police station and were expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court soon. -Sapa