By Esther Lewis
Twenty-four people were due to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrate's Court on Friday morning after Thursday night's running battles between police, Neighbourhood Watch members and angry Masiphumelele residents.
Weeks of unhappiness and tension about a housing development in the area spilled over into Masiphumelele's streets as about 300 residents armed themselves with sticks and knobkieries and staged a sit-in at the busy Blackhill Road intersection at 7pm on Thursday night.
At the same time, another 200 people gathered at the entrance to Masiphumelele in Pokela Road and burned tyres.
Police spokeswoman Captain Cesley Olivier said the police had asked residents to disperse because they were a hazard to motorists and to themselves.
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From about 8pm, all roads leading to Masiphumelele were blocked off by police and Neighbourhood Watch members.
Many people returning home from work were unable to get to their houses.
Just over an hour later, police dispersed the crowd gathered at Blackhill Road with rubber bullets.
The group broke up into small groups, and some scattered through Sun Valley.
Neighbourhood Watch members claimed that the various groups were running rampant through the area, smashing cars and damaging property.
The patrols were set up at several entry points bordering the township.
Neighbourhood Watch members were informed that a group had jumped over the wall and smashed windows at the Sun Valley Caravan Park.
As police and volunteers searched the perimeter of the fence, a group of five men emerged from the nearby bushes.
"Here we are, and we're very sorry. We jumped over the wall because were just trying to get home," said one of the men.
They came out with their hands raised and asked if they could go home.
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