POLICE fired rubber bullets and arrested 14 people for public violence when angry Duncan Village residents blockaded the Mdantsane access road yesterday morning.
More than 300 residents from Florence informal settlement blocked the road after 3am, forcing motorists travelling two and from Mdantsane to take alternative routes.
Duncan Village police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said the 14 community members were arrested on charges of contravening public order.
Marais said protesters became violent towards police, who were called to the scene to maintain order.
“This protest was a result of Duncan Village residents who were not satisfied with service delivery,” said Marais.
“They became violent with the police too and as police were to extinguish the fire that they had caused, they were stoning us so we had to contact the public order police who deal with this kind of violence.”
Marais said the public order police arrived and while they were trying to clear the road, residents continued throwing stones at law enforcement agents.
“As a way to protect ourselves, the public and road users, we resorted to minimum force and used rubber bullets to disperse them.”
The protest continued until 9am and resulted in traffic congestion on the road as motorists and commuters struggled to get into the city for the start of day’s work.
The Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene shortly after 6am when armed police were keeping a close eye on the crowd.
Residents complained about a lack of housing and electricity supply to their shacks.
Resident Monde Dyani said all they wanted was attention from the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) about their need for houses.
“My parents had a house in Reeston but up until today, it is occupied by someone else. What must they do? If they want to remove them out of the house they are told that they will be arrested.”
Some locals who spoke to the Dispatch claimed police shot at them despite of them not being part of the protest action.
Nomonde Giyani said the planned protests started early in the morning. “People are tired of what is happening in Duncan Village. This place is neglected and no one really cares about us,” said Giyani.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi confirmed the service delivery protest and apologised on behalf of the metro for any inconvenience caused .
He said no official petition was handed to BCM and it was thus impossible to comment on the nature of the protest.
“We have had successful IDP meetings in all Duncan Village wards recently, with nothing raised during those legislated platforms that could have led to what the city woke up to today,” he said.
Ngesi added that although it was within the rights of residents to protest in a positive way, yesterday's protest was against the law.
The arrested are expected to appear in court soon. — / /
Duncan Village flames of fury
More than 300 residents from Florence informal settlement blocked the road after 3am, forcing motorists travelling two and from Mdantsane to take alternative routes.
Duncan Village police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said the 14 community members were arrested on charges of contravening public order.
Marais said protesters became violent towards police, who were called to the scene to maintain order.
“This protest was a result of Duncan Village residents who were not satisfied with service delivery,” said Marais.
“They became violent with the police too and as police were to extinguish the fire that they had caused, they were stoning us so we had to contact the public order police who deal with this kind of violence.”
Marais said the public order police arrived and while they were trying to clear the road, residents continued throwing stones at law enforcement agents.
“As a way to protect ourselves, the public and road users, we resorted to minimum force and used rubber bullets to disperse them.”
The protest continued until 9am and resulted in traffic congestion on the road as motorists and commuters struggled to get into the city for the start of day’s work.
The Daily Dispatch arrived on the scene shortly after 6am when armed police were keeping a close eye on the crowd.
Residents complained about a lack of housing and electricity supply to their shacks.
Resident Monde Dyani said all they wanted was attention from the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) about their need for houses.
“My parents had a house in Reeston but up until today, it is occupied by someone else. What must they do? If they want to remove them out of the house they are told that they will be arrested.”
Some locals who spoke to the Dispatch claimed police shot at them despite of them not being part of the protest action.
Nomonde Giyani said the planned protests started early in the morning. “People are tired of what is happening in Duncan Village. This place is neglected and no one really cares about us,” said Giyani.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi confirmed the service delivery protest and apologised on behalf of the metro for any inconvenience caused .
He said no official petition was handed to BCM and it was thus impossible to comment on the nature of the protest.
“We have had successful IDP meetings in all Duncan Village wards recently, with nothing raised during those legislated platforms that could have led to what the city woke up to today,” he said.
Ngesi added that although it was within the rights of residents to protest in a positive way, yesterday's protest was against the law.
The arrested are expected to appear in court soon. — / /
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