This man was attacked, stoned and stabbed by an angry mob in Grabouw, yesterday.

Black and coloured residents of sleepy Overberg town, Grabouw, were at each others’ throats yesterday as racial tensions exploded over attacks on a local school.

Residents from previously disadvantaged communities, Pineview and Siteview, had planned to go en masse to Cape Town on Monday to protest the shocking lack of resources and support for local schools in the area, but these plans were scuppered by an alleged “set up” staged by black residents, who began burning tyres and blockading streets around one school, Groenberg Secondary, predominantly attended by coloured students.

“We call it ‘set up’. Tyres started burning and rocks were placed in the road. It was time. People were singing and the police came,” boasted one resident, “I tell you, we have plans. Next is the white school!”

“They don’t care about us black people. I need a proper school for my child,” said Thulani Maree, another resident involved in the stand off.

Soon enough, violence broke out with a black resident being stoned and stabbed by coloured attackers, apparently in retaliation for vandalism and an arson attempt at Groenberg. Police had to form a human shield to prevent the groups from entering each other’s territories, and finally managed to disperse the crowd with tear gas. Fifteen residents were arrested on various assault and public violence charges.

Today, the situation in Grabouw seems little better with residents on both sides of the conflict apparently standing guard at both affected schools, amid threats being flung from both sides.

“Tonight they are going to be back. Tonight it is going to start again,” warned one resident of an imminent attack from the black community.

[Source: Times LIVE]