The Musina Magistrate's Court has postponed the case against 27 residents of Musina, who were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.

They appeared in court last Wednesday and their case was postponed to 30 November. The suspects allegedly mobilised the community to embark on a protest march, which resulted in public violence breaking out on 1June. During this march, the suspects were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.

Residents who participated in the march allegedly went on the rampage and set two vehicles of the SAPS and the municipality alight. Vehicles that were travelling on the N1 to the Beit Bridge border post were also damaged. The protestors allegedly put burning tyres and big rocks in the road and stopped vehicles from continuing their journeys.

The protestors also smashed windows at the municipal offices, the house of the Chief Whip, Simon Madamalala, and the house of the driver of the mayor.

The unrest followed after residents started accusing the local mayor, Carol Phiri, and the council's Chief Whip, Madamalala, of being corrupt, practicing nepotism and failing to reduce the electricity and water tariffs. They are demanding that the mayor and the Chief Whip resign. Residents want the Musina Municipality to reduce the electricity and water tariffs and to stop cutting off the supply of basic services to people whose accounts are in arrears.