Agri Eastern Cape says the town of Cathcart has seen nearly 40 days of illegal protesting, riddled with violence and destruction, that has gone unpunished and uncontrolled by the police.
The organisation's president, Peter Cloete says it seems that the police are more concerned with the rights of the criminals rather than safeguarding the innocent and law-abiding community.
He says the protests started on the 9th of February and were apparently in response to the Bhisho Health Department reportedly planning to close the healthcare facility in Cathcart.
Cloete says they respect the rights of people to protest but setting trucks alight and pelting vehicles with stones is something that needs to be addressed.
He says some of the suspects are as young as 14.
Provincial police responded to the concerns raised by Agri Eastern Cape assuring the public that their safety and security are paramount.
Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says since the onset of the protest actions, nine people between the ages of 15 and 54 have been arrested.
She says the violent actions started as a service delivery protest but escalated to criminal intent.
The suspects in custody are facing charges ranging from public violence, possession of unlicensed firearms, malicious damage to property and damage to essential infrastructure.
Colonel Naidu says the investigations are ongoing with the possibility of more arrests at a later stage.
She says on Tuesday afternoon SAPS Cathcart arrested four males aged between 15 and 20 who were allegedly stoning vehicles on the N6.
They too, will be charged with malicious damage to property and public violence.
According to police, they remain vigilant in the area.
