11 Arrested After Vehicles And Mine Buildings Torched In Phalaborwa

PHALABORWA – Police arrested 11 people after buildings and vehicles were set alight at the Palaborwa Copper Mine in Limpopo.

According to reports, locals were unhappy about being overlooked for employment at the mine. The protest started earlier this week and carried over into the weekend.

Limpopo police arrested 11 people after protests outside the Phalaborwa copper mine in Phalaborwa turned violent, with properties set alight. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the protests continued into the weekend.

“We have arrested 11 people so far. Members have been deployed and will remain in the area until the situation is brought under control. Mine properties, including a guard house, were torched. A sedan and a truck that was travelling along the R40 were also set alight,” Mojapelo told Media on Sunday.




According to our well-placed sources, members of a community forum gathered to demand that the mine hire locals, following the appointment of a new contractor. But Mojapelo said the cause of the riots was not yet known.

“So far, we do not know about any grouping or affiliations. The circumstances and the degree of everyone’s involvement in this will come to light during the investigation.”