Violence again erupts in Coligny

Violence erupted in Coligny in North West again yesterday despite a meeting called by the provincial government to restore order in the protest-stricken town. Police fired teargas to disperse a group of protesters blocking the N14 highway yesterday afternoon. The protesters, armed with rocks and using corrugated iron sheets as shields, blocked the highway with tyres and steel objects. The police removed the objects on the road as protesters pelted them with stones. The police fired teargas to disperse the group. The group was apparently unhappy with the outcome of a meeting with North West Community Safety MEC, Mpho Motlhabane, on what had been done to restore law and order in Coligny. An unruly group had chanted before Motlhabane arrived for the public meeting in Tlhabologang, and they later heckled him when he briefly addressed the meeting. The protesters wanted to know why two farmers, accused of killing a teenager, had been granted bail. Motlhabane later said government would appeal the ruling.