Johannesburg - Some residents of Majakaneng near Randfontein are calling for order to be restored to the township following violent protests, the local municipality said on Friday.
A group of them had started a campaign “Call For Action”, condemning the violence which flared in the township west of Johannesburg on Wednesday, municipal spokesman Phillip Montshiwa said in a statement.
“We have also noted that a number of our community members have since the early hours of 1/8Thursday 3/8 started to take active action by cleaning up and removing all rubble on our streets,” Montshiwa said, praising their efforts.
The violence erupted following what was supposed to have been a peaceful, police-approved demonstration.
Protesters barricaded roads with tyres, trees and stones, and prevented children from going to school and commuters from going to work.
They torched the library, economic hub, maternity clinic, home affairs offices and mayor Sylvia Thebenare's house.
Gauteng's co-operative governance and human settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo blamed the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for the protest.
The EFF denied this and blamed the African National Congress.
The municipality condemned the violence on Friday.
“Destruction and burning of public facilities meant to directly deliver much needed services to our community is highly unacceptable and should be condemned by everyone,” said Montshiwa.
He condemned the looting of foreign-owned shops and called on community members to report any criminal activity to the police.
The municipality said it was committed to delivering better services to the locals and called for peace.
Sapa