Karishma Dipa and Ilanit.Chernick
Johannesburg - Joburg motorists were confronted by an angry mob from the Jeppe Hostel on Wednesday morning who surrounded their vehicles and demanded that they turn around.
A truck and a bakkie were torched, with police who tried to intervene pelted with stones and debris by a group from the George Goch Hostel who had congregated in Ruven Road near the M2 highway.
Motorists trying to get down to the Vickers Road off-ramp into the city were forced to turn around into oncoming traffic to get back onto the highway.
The large contingent of SAPS and Joburg metro police officers also prompted other motorists who tried to enter the busy roads to find alternative routes.
“Take another route or your car might be damaged or you could lose your life,” one of the officers advised a motorist.
Those intent on driving through the area had to swerve to avoid debris scattered in the streets, including burning tyres, big rocks and bricks.
Among the motorists who ignored the officers’advice was Nagen Bones, who was later forced to abandon his bakkie after protesters confronted him.
The fruit and vegetable vendor told The Star that at about 5am he was on his way to the market to buy produce when he encountered the crowd.
“They started throwing stones at my bakkie so I just got out and ran towards the police across the road,” said Bones.
Armed with sticks and knobkieries, the protesters sang and danced while marching down the street, preventing anyone, including police and journalists, from getting too close.
This prompted more officers to arrive on the scene as they battled to contain the crowd and keep motorists away from the commotion. They tried to negotiate with the protesters to return to the hostel and abandon their protest, but this caused the mob to become increasingly volatile.
Police fired rubber bullets at the protesters to disperse them.
One of the protesters, Nkosikhona Khanyile, said the reason for the protest was the possible demarcation that the hostel dwellers were not consulted about.
“The demarcation board wants to separate our ward but they didn’t inform us,” he told The Star. He demanded that officials address them and rectify the situation.
City of Joburg spokesman Virgil James said part of Ward 65, which the hostel falls under, was being split up to accommodate the creation of five more wards in the city.
“Hostel dwellers think it’s politically motivated, but it’s not the case. This was undertaken with a lot of consultation so that registered voters don’t diminish in those areas,” said James.
@Lanc_02
The Star