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Leader Arnold Mulaudzi, who says the arrests will not dampen their spirit and intimidate them from fighting for a just course.

“Homeland system not to be introduced again”

 

The arrest of nine members of the community in the Vuwani area on the night of 20 August elicited strong reaction from the leader of the Pro-Makhado Demarcation Task Team, Mr Arnold Mulaudzi, after the arrest and subsequent appearance in court of the nine from different villages in the Vuwani area.

The nine were detained at the Waterval police station before they appeared at the Vuwani Magistrate's Court the following day. Three were granted bail of R500 each and six were released without bail and were warned to appear in court again on 20 October.

Their arrest follows the burning of a police nyala vehicle a fortnight ago during the protests. During the same protests, two private vehicles were also set alight while two others were damaged.

There was rampant looting of shops in the town of Vuwani after angry protesters, who had waited for Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha to address them, went on the rampage after he failed to pitch up.

After learning of the news, Mulaudzi reacted angrily, describing the arrests as the most barbaric and desperate act ever seen in communities since the dawn of the democratic order. "The nine are activists who have, with the rest of the Vuwani community, waged war against the inclusion of the various villages to legitimise the establishment of a homeland disguised as a municipality covering Malamulele and the Vuwani areas. Through their actions, the police have allowed themselves to be used like in the apartheid era to suppress the legitimate aspirations of our people."

He added that no amount of terror, including imprisonment, would suppress their feelings. "We shall march in unison to oppose homeland philosophies in whatever shape and character. The homeland system, in whatever name, remains a homeland system," he said. "The homeland system shall not be re-introduced in our lifetime, " he concluded.

The burning of the police vehicle which led to the arrest of the nine.

 

Date:28 August 2015

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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