ROAD BLOCK
POLICE officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in areas where violence erupted during yesterday’s protests.
A DAY of chaos saw one person killed, four police officers injured, a Golden Arrow bus torched, as a police vehicle drove into shacks while several roads were barricaded when so-called service delivery protesters ran amok in several areas around the northern suburbs.
The unrest, which might continue until tomorrow, kept law enforcement officers and the police busy.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said the officers had been deployed to maintain law and order in areas where violence erupted during yesterday’s protests. Traut said the affected areas were Malibu village and Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, and the incidents had possibly been sparked by service delivery-related issues. He said that in Wallacedene an unidentified man was killed when he was struck by a truck. A case of culpable homicide was being investigated.
“In Malibu Village, a case of public violence has been registered after a bus was set alight, but the suspects have yet to be arrested,” said Traut.
He said the police would remain in the affected areas until tranquility was restored.
Kraaifontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) deputy chairperson Nyanisile Tafu said the people who were rioting were those who occupied informal structures that were built during the hard lockdown.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz condemned the violent protests, saying they had affected both directions of the N2 highway, Mew Way, Baden Powell Drive, the R300 and Hindle Road from the early hours.
Fritz said the protest action had also affected communities including Khayelitsha, Langa, Philippi, Nyanga, Mfuleni and Kraaifontein.
“While everyone has the constitutional right to protest, resorting to violence and destruction is simply unacceptable. It is dangerous and illegal to do so at the expense of the rights of others, especially their right to safety, to property and to move freely,” said Fritz.
He said violent protest must be condemned in the strongest terms, and he reminded residents that the destruction of personal and public property was a criminal act.
“This action further threatens to undermine the economic opportunities of many residents in our province, as well as further delay serve delivery.”
Mayor Dan Plato said the unlawful occupation of land – mostly by well-organised invasions – led to severe dysfunctionality in the city, including the obstruction of sewerage infrastructure and access for maintenance, the pollution of waterways, safety hazards due to illegal electricity connections, the loss of rail reserves for trains to run safely, and the loss of investment and value for property owners, particularly in working-class communities.
Plato said law-abiding residents of all backgrounds and income levels could rest assured that the City would continue to stand up for the rule of law while doing everything in its power to drive sustainable human settlements.