Houses burn in Khutsong unrest

Johannesburg – A policeman was injured and two houses burned yesterday during protests led by the SA Communist Party in Khutsong, near Carletonville.

Thousands of residents took to the streets to protest against the government’s decision to incorporate the cross-boundary municipality of Merafong into North West Province, rather than Gauteng.

The policeman was injured during an exchange of rubber bullets and stones between police and protesters.

One of the houses belonged to local councillor Elias Legote, while the other lay between Legote’s house and a stadium where police and protest organisers were negotiating.

SACP leaders, including Paul Mcewa, appeared to have been hit.

Police had positioned themselves in three armoured vehicles in a corner of the stadium’s soccer field and formed riot control positions.

One of the SACP leaders said minutes before that police and organisers had met to discuss allowing people inside the stadium to leave.

At the stadium, two protesters showed rubber-bullet wounds to their eyes. Outside, smoke from burning tyres could be seen as stones flew through the air.

At Legote’s house, a bystander said the councillor “deserved” to have his home torched. – Sapa