South Africa’s capital city, Pretoria, is not a place to be at the moment after violence erupted in the city on Tuesday.
Shops were looted, highways were blocked, motorists were stoned and people were injured as protesters took to the streets to express their anger over politics.
The protesters claimed a woman has been forced on them by the ruling party ANC.
The violence erupted on Monday night over anger about the ousting of Pretoria mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa‚ who has been replaced by ANC MP Thoko Didiza as an ANC mayoral candidate for the August 3 municipal elections.
“There is anger. It is because this unknown woman has been forced on us. The ANC must not forget who put it there. It’s not government who put itself there‚ it’s the people on the ground at grassroots level.
“If they are not careful‚ their leaders will be removed … very careful.”
Mamelodi resident Joseph Mashoba said they wanted their leader.
“Sputla (Kgosientso Ramokgopa) helped us. He’s built houses. He’s built roads and now he is removed. We will not tolerate this nonsense. The ANC must realize that they are not the boss.”
The streets of Pretoria have been deserted as shop keepers and motorists fear of more violence. The police have, however, been dispatched to various locations within the city to stop the violence.
