Pretoria – An apparent bystander was attacked during a violent protest by residents of Iterileng informal settlement near Laudium in Pretoria on Wednesday morning.
It is believed that the man was attacked while walking on the side of the road by the protesters.
The protest action got under way in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Residents burned tyres and intimidated passersby.
According to social activist Yusuf Abramjee, some protesters pelted some houses and vehicles with stones.
#Iterileng #Laudium protest R55 pic.twitter.com/oMS4WePKOC
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 10, 2017
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 10, 2017
#Iterileng #Laudium protest pic.twitter.com/mykGHHO96m
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 10, 2017
They also blocked the busy R55 road.
Protesters took to the streets to demand better service delivery, complaining that numerous empty promises were previously made to them by the government to formalise their settlement.
Residents are demanding the City of Tshwane install electricity to their shacks.
Armed SAPS officers and metro police are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Tshwane metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the situation was relatively calm.
Mahamba said the law-enforcement units were monitoring the protests and had closed off the road between Mahunde and Ladium for safety reasons.
The Pretoria News understands that the MMC for Human Settlement Mandla Nkomo is on his way to the scene to call for calm from protesters.