Residents to march for arrested protesters

INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Residents fired live ammunition at police, a school and a councillor's house on that fateful Tuesday morning. Police fired rubber bullets in return. Photo: Matthews Baloyi

Residents of Thembelihle informal settlement, south of Johannesburg, plan to march on Wednesday in support of those arrested during this week's protests, Gauteng police said.

“We have received information that they are planning to march, but at this stage we don't know where they will hold the demonstration,” said Captain Mbulaheni Netshivhodza.

He said that a heavy police contingent was present at the township near Lenasia and that the situation was calm. Both lanes on Klipspruit Valley Road had been opened on Wednesday morning after residents barricaded it with burning tyres and rocks on Monday.

Eighteen people were arrested in connection with public violence and malicious damage to property during the protests against poor housing, water shortages and corruption.

Residents fired live ammunition at police, a school and a councillor's house on Tuesday morning. Police fired rubber bullets in return.

Protesters also damaged cars, traffic lights and electricity meters and trampled on a 15-year-old girl as they fled from the police.

Two occupants of a Toyota Cressida were pelted with stones.

Tebogo Tshwala, 11, who was hit in the face by a rubber bullet on Monday, was discharged from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital the following day, according to a report in the Sowetan.

Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi addressed residents on Tuesday on their issues, and was allowed to leave peacefully thereafter.

The DA called on Mmemezi to intervene in the protests and formulate a plan to improve service delivery in the province. – Sapa