By Staff Reporter
HARRISMITH- When leaving home to join a service delivery protest in their area on Wednesday, a -30- year old Lungile Vilakazi, only wanted to register her voice, little did she know that her leg would be amputated.
Vilakazi met the tragedy when she was hit by a moving police Nyala during a service delivery at Harrismith on Wednesday.
In an interview with The Guard police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said a case of reckless and negligent driving has been registered, after a woman was hit by a nyala as she allegedly jumped the fence during service delivery protest in Harrismith.
Meanwhile a -35-year truck driver was burned to death after he lost control of his vehicle due to protester allegedly throwing stones at him while trying to pass by Makgolokweng near Harrismith town in the eastern Free State at about 10:45 on Wednesday.
According to Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhale it is alleged that witness saw a few people standing at the Makgolokweng turnoff, throwing stones at this truck .
“Apparently as a result thereof , the driver of the truck lost control and drove into the veld where the truck hit an embankment and caught fire. It is alleged by police who arrived first at scene found a Scania truck with a trailer burning in the veld. Police could not see the driver until after the fire has subsided. They saw a body on the passenger seat burned to death,” Makhele explained in a statement.
The incidents stemmed from a service delivery protest by disgruntle residents of Maluti-a-phofung local municipality who accused municipality of neglecting them and want to be removed out and be independent or be placed under another municipality in the Free State . They are unhappy with the unreliable provision of electricity and water ,including spillages of sewerages. Irate community members are also not complained that Maluti-a-phofung local municipality has neglected them yet they contribute to paying services. At least 30 people of which three are minor have been arrested in Harrismith.
