Village youths blockade roads in jobs protest

Residents of Maja village south of Polokwane blockaded roads this morning with burning tyres and rocks. The youths were demanding they be considered for job opportunities in a local development project. Schooling was interrupted due to the protest while motorists were forced to seek alternative routes to get to the commercial centres of Polokwane and Lebowakgomo where many locals are employed. Police from Lebowakgomo, about 22km to the south were called in to intervene and open the road to motorists. According to Stats SA Ga-Maja which falls under the Polokwane Local Municipality has a high youth unemployment rate with a dependency ratio of 76 with 54.9% of households headed by women. In his State of the Nation Address last week President Cyril Ramaphosa noted unemployment and poverty and the rising cost of living. Photo: Lucas Ledwaba/Mukurukuru Media