Police used stun grenades to disperse a group of residents who disrupted the Mossel Bay Municipality’s monthly council meeting on 23 September after demanding improved basic services that they say have been unresolved for years.
Protest over electricity, water and sanitation
The disturbance unfolded at the municipal building in Marsh Street when a group of residents gathered to confront municipal leadership about a lack of electricity, inadequate water supply and poor sanitation at their homes. According to reporting, the residents said the problems date back to 2018, when many of them first moved to Mossel Bay.
A spokesperson for the group, who asked to remain anonymous, told journalists the delegation wanted to speak directly to Municipal Manager Colin Puren or Mayor Dirk Kotzé but were pushed out of the meeting. Another resident described the indignity of women having to use buckets outdoors because of insufficient toilet provision.
“We don’t have electricity, we don’t have water, we don’t have toilets,” a spokesperson for the group said.
Police response and arrest
The Mossel Bay Police, Public Order Policing (POPS) and municipal traffic officials were called to the scene. The municipality said stun grenades were used to disperse the crowd but emphasised that no injuries were reported. A 48‑year‑old man was arrested, and the Southern Cape Police confirmed that a public violence case has been opened at Mossel Bay Police Station. Warrant Officer Chris Spies was cited in reports as the police spokesperson; the suspect will appear in court once charged.
After the group left the building, council resumed its monthly meeting.
Local context and consequences
Service delivery protests remain a visible feature across parts of the Western Cape and the country, and Mossel Bay is no exception. Residents’ long-standing claims of limited electricity, water supply interruptions and inadequate sanitation point to infrastructure and planning pressures that the municipality must address. For affected households, the impacts are immediate: health risks from poor sanitation, safety concerns where electricity is absent or informal, and reduced dignity and quality of life.
- Duration of complaint: Residents say problems have persisted since 2018.
- Police action: Stun grenades used; no injuries reported; one arrest.
- Legal action: Public violence case opened at Mossel Bay Police Station.
The use of public order policing measures, including stun grenades, raises questions about how municipalities and SAPS balance maintaining safety and allowing citizens to seek accountability. Municipalities frequently face the challenge of responding to protests while ensuring council processes can continue.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Mossel Bay Municipal Building, Marsh Street |
| Date | 23 September 2026 |
| Arrest | One man, 48 years old |
| Case | Public violence opened at Mossel Bay Police Station |
What residents want and what remains unclear
The residents’ core demand is straightforward: basic municipal services for homes they say have lacked reliable electricity, adequate water and proper sanitation for years. They sought face‑to‑face engagement with senior municipal officials but were unable to gain entry to the meeting.
Reporting indicates the municipality acknowledged the incident and the arrest but did not provide further detail on how it intends to resolve the specific service delivery complaints or whether a follow‑up meeting with the residents is planned. The council meeting continued after the disturbance.
For Mossel Bay residents, the immediate priorities will be clarity on how the municipality will address the households’ needs and how future requests for direct engagement with municipal leadership will be managed without escalating into confrontation. The public violence docket at Mossel Bay Police Station will determine next steps in terms of criminal proceedings.
