THE 57 Obanjeni community members arrested last week following violent employment related protests against Tronox, have been released on R500 bail each on Tuesday and will appear in court again on 27 March.
Prior to this there were more reports of vehicle stoning on the N2 as community members vented their anger on motorists while the 57 appeared in the eSikhaleni Magistrate’s Court.
According to community spokesperson Philani Mthethwa, the arrests caused frustration because the community feels they are being victimised for standing up for their rights. On Tuesday the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) uThungulu Region Secretary Nkululeko Ngubane said the EFF held a meeting at the eShowe Community Hall on Saturday to pledge their support to the Obanjeni community.
‘We insist the community should fight on, demand shares from the mine and not be satisfied with jobs only.
‘We also know that the land on which mining will take place is under land claim. That land is not supposed to be utilised pending the outcome of the claim,’ Ngubane said. ‘We are also calling for the immediate release of our people who are detained for simply demanding what belongs to them.
‘We will continue to mobilise the community until justice is done.’
