Thursday, June 25, 2009

Masiphumelele residents stone police vehicle

Protesters blocked the entrance to the informal settlement of Masiphumelele near Kommetjie with burning tyres and stoned two of its vehicles on Wednesday, police spokesperson Bernadine Steyn said.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd.

Steyn said the unrest had started late afternoon and by late Wednesday night police were still clearing the scene.

"People closed the road to Masiphumelele with tyres which were set alight. Two police vehicles were stoned. Rubber bullets were fired into the crowd."

Steyn was on Wednesday night unable to say what had sparked the protest.

Amakhaya Ngoku Housing Association secretary Bulelwa Jafta said the protest was started by backyard dwellers who wanted to build housing on a piece or land earmarked for development.

The backyarders had previously protested in October last year.

"The place they want to build their shacks is meant for another project, so they are not meant to build there," Jafta said.

Read the full story in Thursday's Cape Times

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