A SHOOTOUT between police and an izinyoka suspect in Vergenoeg on Sunday is the eighth incident of increasingly violent unrest connected to service delivery failure in Buffalo City this year.
The weekend’s violence, reported in the Daily Dispatch yesterday, was sparked by an initiative to combat illegal electricity connections in Vergenoeg in East Bank. The councillor for Ward 10 in the area, Irene Brauns, said the problem of illegal cable connections by informal dwellers was rampant in the area.
“I fully understand the plight of informal dwellers but illegal ly connecting electricity cables is very dangerous and costs the metro millions,” Brauns said.
Ratepayers in the area have protested several times this year over week-long power cuts.
When the Dispatch drove past the area yesterday all was quiet. On Sunday the Dispatch team which reported on the lat est incident was threatened by an angry mob that had gath ered after the 24-year-old suspect, who had snatched a police shotgun and fled, was shot in the leg by pursuing police when the officer was confronted and pushed and fell over; causing the shotgun to fall on the ground. It is suspected that the man is an illegal cable connector in the area.
Captain Stephen Marais yesterday confirmed he was still in hospital under police guard.
“Once the suspect is fit to stand trial he will face charges of assault, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and attempted murder,” Marais said.
Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha made an impassioned call in March for citizens to stop destroying property and violating other people’s rights when they want ed to be heard.
She was speaking at a meeting in Mzamomhle, Gonubie, after frustrated residents torched a community hall, development centre and a spaza shop in the area.
Earlier this year, the Dispatch reported on three separate service delivery protests in Dun can Village. During one of the protests 14 protesters were arrested for public violence after clashing with police.
A few weeks later ratepayers from three communities – Fynbos in ward 10, Parkridge and CC Lloyd in ward 6 – protested over illegal connections. A police officer sustained injuries after being hit with a brick.
Spokesman for the department of local government and traditional affairs Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha condemned the violent protests.
under municipal boundaries. “Violence is not justified at all and there are existing channels for communities to engage municipalities on service delivery issues when they arise.” Sicwetsha said
Sicwetsha added delays in delivery vary according to different municipalities.
“Under-expenditure in some municipalities like BCM in spires delayed delivery. At the centre of this is the need to sustain relations with commu nities so they know what is tak ing place or not taking place,” Sicwetsha said. — arethal@dis patch.co.za
Violence grows as desperate Buffalo City service protests go unheard
The weekend’s violence, reported in the Daily Dispatch yesterday, was sparked by an initiative to combat illegal electricity connections in Vergenoeg in East Bank. The councillor for Ward 10 in the area, Irene Brauns, said the problem of illegal cable connections by informal dwellers was rampant in the area.
“I fully understand the plight of informal dwellers but illegal ly connecting electricity cables is very dangerous and costs the metro millions,” Brauns said.
Ratepayers in the area have protested several times this year over week-long power cuts.
When the Dispatch drove past the area yesterday all was quiet. On Sunday the Dispatch team which reported on the lat est incident was threatened by an angry mob that had gath ered after the 24-year-old suspect, who had snatched a police shotgun and fled, was shot in the leg by pursuing police when the officer was confronted and pushed and fell over; causing the shotgun to fall on the ground. It is suspected that the man is an illegal cable connector in the area.
Captain Stephen Marais yesterday confirmed he was still in hospital under police guard.
“Once the suspect is fit to stand trial he will face charges of assault, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and attempted murder,” Marais said.
Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha made an impassioned call in March for citizens to stop destroying property and violating other people’s rights when they want ed to be heard.
She was speaking at a meeting in Mzamomhle, Gonubie, after frustrated residents torched a community hall, development centre and a spaza shop in the area.
Earlier this year, the Dispatch reported on three separate service delivery protests in Dun can Village. During one of the protests 14 protesters were arrested for public violence after clashing with police.
A few weeks later ratepayers from three communities – Fynbos in ward 10, Parkridge and CC Lloyd in ward 6 – protested over illegal connections. A police officer sustained injuries after being hit with a brick.
Spokesman for the department of local government and traditional affairs Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha condemned the violent protests.
under municipal boundaries. “Violence is not justified at all and there are existing channels for communities to engage municipalities on service delivery issues when they arise.” Sicwetsha said
Sicwetsha added delays in delivery vary according to different municipalities.
“Under-expenditure in some municipalities like BCM in spires delayed delivery. At the centre of this is the need to sustain relations with commu nities so they know what is tak ing place or not taking place,” Sicwetsha said. — arethal@dis patch.co.za
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