The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has strongly condemned the torching of the Mapulaneng Driver’s Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) traffic station, describing the incident as an act of destruction that disrupts essential public services for the community.

The municipality said the incident undermines critical infrastructure and inconveniences residents who rely on the facility for important services such as licensing and vehicle registration.

According to the municipality, acts of violence and vandalism have no place in society and only serve to reverse progress made in improving infrastructure and service delivery within the area.

Despite the damage caused by the fire, the municipality says efforts are underway to restore services as quickly as possible.

The Mapulaneng DLTC will partially reopen on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, with limited services available. Residents will be able to access:

• Licensing services
• Vehicle registration
• Collection of driver’s licences

The municipality indicated that further updates regarding the full restoration of services will be communicated in due course.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Bushbuckridge have also condemned the acts of vandalism and violence targeting municipal offices, including the burning of the traffic department.

The party said that while it understands residents’ frustration and anger, destruction and violence are not the solution. The EFF argued that such actions ultimately harm the community and shift attention away from pressing concerns such as corruption, poor service delivery and lack of accountability.

The party expressed support for peaceful protest and constructive engagement with authorities as a means to address community grievances. It also urged residents to report incidents of corruption or mismanagement and to participate in peaceful demonstrations.

The EFF Bushbuckridge leadership further indicated that it plans to meet with community leaders to explore ways of addressing community concerns through peaceful and effective means, while continuing to advocate for improved services and accountability from local leadership.