Man shot in traders’ protest

17/06/2014 Tshwane informal traders trashing the inner city streets during their march to the municipal office. They are unhappy about alleged harrasement by the Tshwane Metro Police officers. Picture: Phill Magakoe

17/06/2014 Tshwane informal traders trashing the inner city streets during their march to the municipal office. They are unhappy about alleged harrasement by the Tshwane Metro Police officers. Picture: Phill Magakoe

Published Jun 17, 2014

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Pretoria - A man was shot and injured on Tuesday afternoon, allegedly by security guards in Marabastad, near Pretoria Central.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said the man had joined a group of informal traders who were protesting against the Tshwane metro police.

When Sapa got to the scene, the Tshwane emergency medical services ambulance had just arrived.

Passers-by said the man had been lying at the corner of Mogul and Fourth street for more than 30 minutes.

By the time the man, identified only by his nickname Slesh, was placed in the ambulance, several police officers and a crowd had gathered.

Earlier, members of the Tshwane Barekisi Forum demanded answers from the municipality after they handed over a memorandum of grievances in Pretoria.

The forum's chairman, Shoes Maloka, led hundreds of sjambok-wielding protesters through the city centre.

Tshwane MMC for economic development Subesh Pillay received the memorandum at the Tshwane metro municipality's head office, Isivuno House.

The traders want metro police to stop “stealing” their stock, and to act against an officer who shot dead one of their colleagues in January.

“MMC Subesh, talk to the people. Why are you afraid?” Maloka said.

The vendors vowed to congregate at the municipal offices on Wednesday morning.

The forum's secretary Elliot Mcadimeng said several petitions had been sent to Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa to no avail.

The vendors had also wanted Ramokgopa to act against an officer who shot dead trader Jan Foster Rivombo in the city in January.

Businesses closed in a hurry as the protesters marched from Bosman station along Paul Kruger Street, leaving litter in their wake.

In January, the forum claimed that Rivombo, a vegetable seller, was shot dead for refusing to hand his stock over to Tshwane metro police.

The hawkers threatened to make the city ungovernable if the Tshwane metro police did not stop harassing them.

The forum says it has more than 1000 licensed members in Pretoria.

Sapa

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