Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-02-23
There is a high police presence in Thembelihle informal settlement in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg after residents took to the streets over service delivery.
Residents are demanding housing sanitation, water and electricity.
Police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the informal settlement after residents blocked off several roads with burning tyres and even stoning passing motorists.
The police’s Kay Makhubela says officers had to use force.
“Is it necessary for people who are throwing stones to know that they will damage cars, they will damage other property and also injure other people.”
Residents said they handed a memorandum of grievances to the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Jacob Mambolo in November last year but it was not addressed. They wanted the MEC to address their grievances at 1pm this afternoon.
However Mombolo was attending the state of the province address by Gauteng Premier David Makhura.
Community spokesperson Nhlankanipho Lukele said the MEC should not have attended the State of the province address but rather address their grievances.
“The State of the Province address is not an issue to us because he was elected by the people and he supposed to respect the people and come an address the people who elected him into power.”
Earlier a local shop was looted in Lenasia extension 9 by some of the protestors which was condemned by Lukehele.
“We are working hand in hand with police to find those perpetrators and they must face the law.
Lukhele said they will continue protesting until their demands are met.
Police are monitoring the situation.
0 Comments