After a meeting with the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC in the Free State, Thembeni Nxangisa, on Thursday afternoon, Harrismith residents agreed to pause their strike.
OFM News reports, this came after learning and teaching were influenced negatively after unrest continued for almost a week in the area. Businesses were also affected as some have been looted during the chaos.
At least 42 people have been arrested and appeared before the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court for public violence.
Furthermore, on Wednesday a 35-year-old truck driver from Clanwilliam in the Western Cape tragically died in an accident near Harrismith after his truck was pelted with a stone and veered off the N5 road. A fire started and he was declared dead on the scene.
The residents were demanding, among other things, the municipal borders of the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality must be demarcated. Maluti-A-Phofung also includes Qwaqwa and Kestel.
At this stage, the N3 and N5 roads are open for traffic.
