#DiepkloofProtest: Residents tell cops to go ahead and shoot

Picture: Khanyisile Ngcobo/IOL

Picture: Khanyisile Ngcobo/IOL

Published May 19, 2017

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Johannesburg – The situation got tense in Diepkloof, Soweto as police began removing barricades placed by protesting residents.

This as residents continue their protest action over service delivery and housing.

Residents allege they've been waiting for houses since 1996, to no avail.

They accused the government of putting its own interest over those of the people.

Police began ordering residents to disperse, pointing guns at them. Residents refused and told the police to go ahead and shoot.

Noluthando Sigasa, speaking on behalf of the community, explained that they decided to protest as government was refusing to listen to their demands.

#DiepkloofProtest road still closed as protest continues. @IOL @ReporterStar pic.twitter.com/vv4III7LjZ

— Khanyisile (@Khanyi_Seele) May 19, 2017 #DiepkloofProtest situation gets tense as police remove barricades. Residents angry over this. @IOL @ReporterStar pic.twitter.com/vocr7eJXuA

— Khanyisile (@Khanyi_Seele) May 19, 2017

"We've wrote numerous petitions to the MMC of housing but no one has come to meet us," she charged.

"All we got a response, telling us Diepkloof was a suburb and not a township, hence it's not being prioritised."

This response did not go down well with residents, with Sigasa adding that this showed that local residents were not being catered for.

She explained that foreigners continued to get top priority while residents were being forced to live in overcrowded yards.

Sigasa said their demand was simple; all they want I'd for government to meet with them to resolve the issue.

"We won't stop protesting until they meet our demands and give us answers," she said.

It remains unclear if officials have met with residents to resolve the issue.

IOL

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