An urgent community meeting, which was intended to address the electricity supply challenges in KwaGuqa extensions, descended into chaos and violence after residents stoned and assaulted the mayor on Thursday in Vosman in Mpumalanga.Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality Connie Nkalitshana had to be evacuated to the nearby KG Mall from a hail of stones from the angry community members who accused the mayor of being arrogant.

It's alleged that during her address, the mayor told the crowd that they did not have fridges for the electricity that they were demanding. Nkalitshana visited the community because they had been protesting for electricity and for justice for a deceased young boy, Philasande Yende (13), who was killed by a stray bullet during the protests.

It is alleged that Nkalitshana and MMC Vusi Nhlapho sustained injuries from the hail of rocks hurled at them.During a radio interview on yesterday evening, Nkalitshana refuted the claims that she had been arrogant and that she told residents that they did not have fridges for the electricity they were demanding.

The spate of protests have continued throughout the day in various parts of eMalahleni as communities have vowed to continue with protests until telectricity is restored. 

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, urged motorists travelling from Pretoria to Emalahleni and vice-versa through the N4 toll road, to continue avoiding roads near Vosman in Emalahleni as far possible as advised days ago, due to the protracted violent protests in the area. 

"The protesters have barricaded the road for days now, and it is alleged that the protest was among others sparked by the lack of electricity supply in the area. The protests has been marred by violence, with some protesters reportedly throwing stones at passing vehicles. They allegedly closed some of the routes in the area. The protests have been costly to motorists and community members who had to use other unfamiliar routes to reach their destinations," he said. Shongwe further said law enforcement officers, who include traffic officers and the police, have had their hands full as they deal with this violent protest. He noted that despite the efforts made by Emalahleni Local Municipality to bring an end to the impasse, the N4 toll road in Vosman remains closed and made a call to the protesters to respect the rights of other people.

Shongwe condemned the ongoing violence and criminality that have characterised most protests in the province, including Emalahleni and Bushbuckridge.

"Our progressive constitution guarantees everyone's rights to express themselves freely, and this includes the right to protest. These rights, however, do not mean the infringement of the rights of others. Protesters must respect the rights of other people to move freely and refrain from destroying public or private properties regardless of issues that they wish to bring to the attention of authorities," said Shongwe.

He added that the N4 toll road is an essential link between South Africa and countries like Eswatini, Mozambique, and Botswana.

Shongwe is also appealing to protesting leaders to always ensure that criminal elements are not allowed to thrive during protests.