Johannesburg - Police on Friday said they were “winning” the battle against protesters in Meyerton in the Midvaal, south of Johannesburg, after seven people were arrested for public violence.
This follows a violent service delivery protest in Meyerton after angry residents from of Ward 10 in Sicelo Shiceka informal settlement took to the streets on Thursday and staged a violent protest, barricading the R59 highway in Meyerton and demanding houses‚ water and electricity.
Protesting residents were also angered on Friday, the Mayor of Midvaal Municipality, Bongani Baloyi, did not pitch to address them regarding their grievances after they demanded him to. Residents have been protesting since Monday, demanding to be addressed by Baloyi.
Police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda said police have managed to calm the situation in the area on Friday afternoon, though there were still sporadic running battles between police and protesters.
“So far, the traffic flow is going well on the R59 highway. We have made seven official arrests and will charge them with public violence. But we are processing several other arrested people,” Funda said.
“There are still groups of people who are gathering there and there, and police are dispersing them. But we are winning.”
Funda said police were using non-lethal force to continue dispersing the crowds. There were reports of passing cars being stoned and images of property being damaged were shared widely on social media platforms.
A TV journalist was reported to have had her camera taken and smashed and other media personnel chased away and pelted with stones by protesters.
But Funda said there had been no cases of damage to property reported with the police, except for a stoned car on Thursday night around 10pm.
Midvaal is the only Democratic Alliance-run municipality in Gauteng.
African News Agency