Thick plumes of acrid smoke hung in the air above Egoli in Buffalo City last night while below, chaos reigned as log-jammed traffic was redirected near the Black Road amid a housing protest that turned ugly.
A resident who did not give his name called the Dispatch to say five people had been shot with rubber bullets. This could not be confirmed but BCM said their rapid response team was at the scene.
Angry Egoli villagers blocked the Mdantsane access road with burning tyres, trapping motorists and taxis on the busy link between the city and several townships for hours.
Nahoon Fisheries staffers Lindiwe Dunke, 30 and Thandiswa Mtsewu, 31, told the Dispatch at the traffic jam they were fed up, having being on their feet all day at work.
Mtsewu, who has an 11-month infant, said the child’s nanny was was panicking and she would have to pay overtime. “It’s been over an hour sitting on the side of the road. Our taxi can't move. We are scared to walk because crime is rife on this road and I don't want to get raped."
Dunke, from Fynbos said: "My feet are killing me and I am starving.
“But what worries me more is that once there is a chaotic protest like this at night, criminal activities also take place where tsotsis take advantage of the situation and invade our homes. Young women who stay alone have been raped in the past.”
Eastern Cape transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie said officials had to divert traffic to Amalinda main road, Cambridge main road and Voortekker Road.
Rantjie said the protest started not far from the Empilweni healthcare centre.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said: “We have been made aware of the challenges in the area and our law enforcement agencies are working together with the police to bring order. We have a rapid response team that we deploy on such occasions to listen to the grievances and find solutions.
Last night East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said four protesters were arrested and appeared in court yesterday.
“Roads are still blocked and the public order police are monitoring”...