9 arrested on day four of Grabouw protest
AT LEAST nine people have been arrested on the fourth day of the Grabouw land invasion protests, according to police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.
“Nine people, between the ages of 28 and 40, have been arrested. Eight of them have been charged for public violence and one for incitement of public violence. They are due to appear in the Grabouw Magistrate’s Court once charged,” he said.
Just over a month ago, frustrated backyarders who were no longer able to afford rising rent costs in Grabouw settled on privately owned land, now known as the Siyanyanzela informal settlement.
After hearing rumours of a possible eviction, the residents began protesting, burning down the local traffic department building and setting up blockades on a number of roads, including the N2.
Since Monday, the informal settlement residents have been fighting their eviction, with many losing their newly erected shacks after the SAPS and Land Invasion Unit moved in.
Police spokeswoman Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said: “The City of Cape Town started demolishing illegal structures and the crowd threw stones at police.” She said police took action and used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
However, Mayco member for Human Settlements Benedicta van Minnen has denied the city’s involvement in the evictions. She said the city’s Anti-Land Invasion Unit had not been involved in the “counter-spoliation operations that have been carried out by the National Department of Public Works and the police on the department’s land”.
Traffic chief Kenny Africa said although the situation remained tense by late last night, the N2 was expected to be opened by this morning.