The New Age reports that the City of Tshwane will be laying criminal charges against about 600 protesting Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) contract workers who torched and vandalised 11 municipal vehicles, a metro police vehicle and buildings on Thursday.  

The workers embarked on a violent and illegal protest in Soshanguve Block F accusing the municipality of not paying them for the past three months and barricading the road with stones and burning tyres.  They later dispersed after the police presence was beefed up, but allegedly threatened to continue torching public buildings later.  The City’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, said the protesters had not been coming to work and had therefore not been paid.  “This incident happened in region one and it was 30% of the project’s workers who were part of the protest.  The other region’s workers are carrying out their duties,” he advised.  Mashigo said the damage to property was bad and that the City would not tolerate illegal protests and would take the necessary steps to deal with the protesters.  One community member supported the protest, accusing the municipality of making empty promises.  More than 3,000 people are employed around Winterveld, Ga-Rankuwa, Mabopane and Atteridgeville.

• This report by Karabo Moloi is at The New Age
• Read too, Vat Alles goes on the rampage in Tshwane, at Pretoria News

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