Cape Town - Dunoon protesters, who want land along the N7 in order to erect structures, were fired at by metro police on Monday as they pelted the local MyCiTi bus stop with stones and rocks.
It forced the closure of the bus stop and Potsdam Road. This, after protesters charged four law enforcement vehicles, hurling rocks and other debris.
The attack followed the removal by authorities of pegs used to demarcate where residents were planning on erecting their structures, as well as two structures which had already been built on patches of land along the N7 close to Dunoon.
Mayco member for Transport Brett Herron condemned the attack on the MyCiTi bus stop.
“I am extremely concerned about the attacks on city infrastructure over the past few days. Whatever the reason, there can be no justification for the anarchy, violence and destruction that took place in Dunoon and Joe Slovo,” he said.
On Sunday at around 4:30pm the MyCiTi Dunoon station in Potsdam Road was attacked and vandalised by protesters.
Herron said commuters and a security guard fled the scene as they were being targeted by protesters who threw rocks and objects at the station building, causing damage to the glass panels and exterior of the building.
According to Herron, nobody was injured during the attack, but T01 and T04 services along Potsdam Road were suspended, forcing buses to turn back at the Potsdam station. Herron said the Dunoon bus station attack was the second attack on MyCiTi station infrastructure within five days.
He said that last Tuesday, illegal taxi operators vandalised the MyCiTi Phoenix station in Omuramba Road in Joe Slovo, causing damage to the station roller shutter doors, the front entrance, the cash office windows and the entrance canopy sheets.
“There is absolutely no excuse for this criminal and thuggish behaviour,” said Herron. “Safe to say that those who will suffer the most are the communities of Dunoon and Joe Slovo, who will not be able to use the Dunoon and Phoenix stations for a number of weeks while the buildings are repaired.”
Herron said the cost of the damage was still being assessed.
“Vandalism and the destruction of city property, coupled with intimidation and threats to our personnel and law abiding citizens, is unacceptable.
Herron said police were investigating the attacks and the city would assist “in any way possible” to identify the perpetrators.
Cape Argus