Twenty-four people were due to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrate's Court on Friday morning after Thursday night's running battles between police, Neighbourhood Watch members and angry Masiphumelele residents.
Weeks of unhappiness and tension about a housing development in the area spilled over into Masiphumelele's streets as about 300 residents armed themselves with sticks and knobkieries and staged a sit-in at the busy Blackhill Road intersection at 7pm on Thursday night.
At the same time, another 200 people gathered at the entrance to Masiphumelele in Pokela Road and burned tyres.
Police spokeswoman Captain Cesley Olivier said the police had asked residents to disperse because they were a hazard to motorists and to themselves.
From about 8pm, all roads leading to Masiphumelele were blocked off by police and Neighbourhood Watch members.
Many people returning home from work were unable to get to their houses.
Just over an hour later, police dispersed the crowd gathered at Blackhill Road with rubber bullets. The group broke up into small groups, and some scattered through Sun Valley.
Neighbourhood Watch members claimed that the various groups were running rampant through the area, smashing cars and damaging property. The patrols were set up at several entry points bordering the township. Neighbourhood Watch members were informed that a group had jumped over the wall and smashed windows at the Sun Valley Caravan Park.
As police and volunteers searched the perimeter of the fence, a group of five men emerged from the nearby bushes.
"Here we are, and we're very sorry. We jumped over the wall because were just trying to get home," said one of the men. They came out with their hands raised and asked if they could go home.
They were, however, put in the back of a police van.
On the other side of the property, screaming and crying could be heard. A man with his hands tied behind his back emerged from the dark. His face and head was dripping with blood.
A few youths armed with sticks dragged two more men toward the police.
"Ons sal julle almal vrek maak, hoor jy?" (We'll kill all of you, do you hear me?), said a youth.
It is unclear if he was with the Neighbourhood Watch members or if he lived on the property. After the three men were loaded in the van, police caught another woman and also put her in the van.
By 10pm, the roads had been opened. The main road was full of dirt, broken glass, huge rocks and the remnants of burnt tyres.
Police carried out foot patrols inside a very tense Masiphumelele, but stuck to the main road. According to Olivier, residents had continued to stone police vehicles. They maintained a heavy police presence on Kommetjie Road, just outside the township.
She said 24 people had been arrested and detained at Muizenberg police station. They were all due to face charges of public violence in the Muizenberg Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Several protests over housing have taken place in the area over the last few weeks.
Many backyard dwellers are unhappy about the Amakhaya Ngoku housing development in the area.
- Cape Argus
Weeks of unhappiness and tension about a housing development in the area spilled over into Masiphumelele's streets as about 300 residents armed themselves with sticks and knobkieries and staged a sit-in at the busy Blackhill Road intersection at 7pm on Thursday night.
At the same time, another 200 people gathered at the entrance to Masiphumelele in Pokela Road and burned tyres.
Police spokeswoman Captain Cesley Olivier said the police had asked residents to disperse because they were a hazard to motorists and to themselves.
From about 8pm, all roads leading to Masiphumelele were blocked off by police and Neighbourhood Watch members.
Many people returning home from work were unable to get to their houses.
Just over an hour later, police dispersed the crowd gathered at Blackhill Road with rubber bullets. The group broke up into small groups, and some scattered through Sun Valley.
Neighbourhood Watch members claimed that the various groups were running rampant through the area, smashing cars and damaging property. The patrols were set up at several entry points bordering the township. Neighbourhood Watch members were informed that a group had jumped over the wall and smashed windows at the Sun Valley Caravan Park.
As police and volunteers searched the perimeter of the fence, a group of five men emerged from the nearby bushes.
"Here we are, and we're very sorry. We jumped over the wall because were just trying to get home," said one of the men. They came out with their hands raised and asked if they could go home.
They were, however, put in the back of a police van.
On the other side of the property, screaming and crying could be heard. A man with his hands tied behind his back emerged from the dark. His face and head was dripping with blood.
A few youths armed with sticks dragged two more men toward the police.
"Ons sal julle almal vrek maak, hoor jy?" (We'll kill all of you, do you hear me?), said a youth.
It is unclear if he was with the Neighbourhood Watch members or if he lived on the property. After the three men were loaded in the van, police caught another woman and also put her in the van.
By 10pm, the roads had been opened. The main road was full of dirt, broken glass, huge rocks and the remnants of burnt tyres.
Police carried out foot patrols inside a very tense Masiphumelele, but stuck to the main road. According to Olivier, residents had continued to stone police vehicles. They maintained a heavy police presence on Kommetjie Road, just outside the township.
She said 24 people had been arrested and detained at Muizenberg police station. They were all due to face charges of public violence in the Muizenberg Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Several protests over housing have taken place in the area over the last few weeks.
Many backyard dwellers are unhappy about the Amakhaya Ngoku housing development in the area.
- Cape Argus
No comments:
Post a Comment