South African protestors defy police warning, shut...

South African protestors defy police warning, shutdown Musina

Witness Runodada

Zim Now Reporter

Masses of South African protesters have refused to heed a stern warning from the police and are marching in Musina.

Pictures and videos on social media show citizens marching in a blocking the road to traffic moving in either direction.

Limpopo Province Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe had issued a warning to the communities of Vhembe following alleged threats of a shutdown at the Baobab Toll Plaza which links Musina town and Beitbridge Border post to inland South Africa.

Lt Hadebe said that any amount of lawlessness wwould not be tolerated in Vhembe district, in particular the Musina policing precinct. South Africa has a history of violent protests which often degenerate into looting sprees.

Reports say that the protests have been peaceful so far with community members singing and chanting while raising placards against crime.

Citizens mobilised through a viral poster on various social media platforms calling on community members to protest against high incidents of theft of vehicles, hijackings, and smuggling of vehicles into neighbouring countries through Beitbridge.

Many nationals of different countries especially Zimbabweans, Malawians and Somalis enter South Africa illegally through Beitbridge.

South African police have been working on closing the porous border and have burnt some make shift bridges as well as arrested a number of suspects driving stolen vehicles towards the Zimbabwe border with some convicted and serving prison sentences.