Violent protest on R510

Northam/ R510 – Residents from Northam, Moruleng, Thabazimbi and surrounding rural areas held a mass protest on the R510 on Thursday, 8 March.

The mass demonstration, which was reportedly legally authorised from 05h00 to 12h00, was intended to be a peaceful protest leading up to the crossing on the R510, between Northam Platinum and Anglo American Platinum’s Amendelbult Complex. 

However, the protest soon flared up as the R510 was barricaded with burning tyres and large rocks. No vehicles were allowed to pass, effectively grinding traffic on the regional road to a halt and shutting down the Northam-Thabazimbi road, leading to Rustenburg.  

At one stage, the police had to use teargas and rubber bullets to try and disperse the crowd, arresting several protestors during the clash. 

Organisers of the protest stated that the mines should employ more local residents.