Pretoria - Angry Eersterust residents have blocked the main entrance to their community at the intersection of Stormvoël Road and Hans Coverdale Street East with burning tyres, rocks and debris.
The community parked their cars and are standing with children and the elderly. The crowd is mostly youths who said they would not be there if the young people of the community were given employment opportunities.
A few cars are playing songs that were played during the struggle for freedom and democracy during the apartheid regime. Some community members are dancing while others screamed "mayibuye iAfrica" (return Africa to its people).
Police have arrested 16 people who allegedly vandalised the force's Eersterust station and stole items including a firearm. A computer set and plasma television have been recovered.
"Police will work around the clock to ensure that all missing items are recovered, particularly the service firearm," provincial commissioner, Lt General Deliwe de Lange said.
"Next is for our investigators to work towards ensuring prosecutable cases with convictions that would ultimately serve as deterrents to anyone else who has plans to undermine the authority of the State."
The community said Eersterust is a 60-year-old community and despite continuous service delivery challenges over the years, this was the first time they decided to protest.
Eersterust community members want services in their community and have blocked entrances with burning tyres and rocks. Video: James Mahlokwane
They said they wanted mayor Solly Msimanga to come and address them at the community civic centre but believed he would not come. The community said they are tired of speaking to City officials and wanted the City's number one citizens to speak to them face to face.
The community was told that MEC for Human Settlement, Uhuru Moiloa, will address them about their grievances which include lack of housing, high rates, dilapidated infrastructure and frequent water and electricity interruptions.
The crowd said they will wait until 1pm when Moiloa arrives and they want him to address them at the corner of St Joseph Avenue and Hans Coverdale where burning tyres and rocks filled the intersection.
Resident Normal Mlanjeni said about 90% of the people at this protest were youth and that alone was an indication of the rife unemployment rate in the community. He said the community decided that they did not want political parties to form part of this protest because it was only motivated by lack of desired services.
The community also highlighted that Eersterust people needed houses and there was a lot of unused land in the area. They said they did not understand why there were suggestions of moving some of the people away from Eersterust.
Neelen Jeffres who has lived in the community for 54 years said: "Our forefathers fought for democracy too but our community is treated as surplus. The mayor can come here to collect votes but he cannot come to engage us when we have grievances. We have submitted stacks of memorandums to the City and we are tired of unrealistic timelines and theoretical stuff.
"Poverty rates are high and are killing us here. We are poor people we cannot be paying as if we are as rich as our neighbouring communities. We have sent our children to tertiary but here they are protesting with us because there is no employment opportunities for them. The next thing they sit on the streets and are forced into a life of drugs and crime."