Violent protests in Khayelitsha spread to Lansdowne Road yesterday forcing authorities to close a major thoroughfare, declaring it a no-go zone.
The third consecutive day of violence in Khayelitsha saw angry service delivery protesters open fire – apparently with live ammunition – at a security vehicle and hurl rocks and a petrol bomb at several other vehicles in Mew Way, a major through-road.
With blood pouring down his neck, Abdurahman Allie from Kensington said he had been on his way to Khayelitsha to drop off furniture when people threw rocks at his van.
“We were told the trouble was over, and that it was safe to come here, but just as we entered Mew Way, the people started throwing rocks,” he said.
Allie complained of dizziness after he was hit on the back of his head. He was treated at the scene by paramedics.
The occupants of an Isuzu bakkie narrowly escaped a fiery death when a petrol bomb was apparently hurled into the vehicle.
The men managed to get out, but could not save the steel rods they been transporting to a business.
“Luckily we escaped without injuries,” one of the workers said.
Deon Jordaan, from the Protea Coin Group, said protesters shot at their bakkie, with what appeared to be a 9mm firearm.
“We saw an Isuzu bakkie standing in the middle of the road and we wanted to turn back, but suddenly people started throwing stones,” he said.
Jordaan said they were on their way to help staff of one of their cash vehicles when they ran into trouble.
“If it wasn’t for the bulletproof windows, we would not be standing here,” Jordaan’s passenger added.
Simon Monde, who works at the Mdzananda animal clinic in Khayelitsha, said he had just dropped off dogs when his vehicle was pelted with stones.
Authorities later closed Mew Way saying it had become too dangerous for delivery and company vehicles.
Meanwhile the violence spilled over into Lansdowne Road, where residents tried to set a vehicle alight, but law enforcement officials quickly moved in.
Western Cape community safety MEC Albert Fritz, who was escorted to the scene of the protests under heavy police guard, said the torching of vehicles, barricading of roads and total disregard for the law was “nothing short of anarchy”.
And he laid the blame for the unrest at the door of the ANC Youth League, saying: “I just think they’re getting desperate politically and we know it’s the ANC Youth League, getting very desperate, inciting violence and making the area ungovernable.”
He said officials had warned delivery vehicles not to come into the area. “It’s not safe for them.”
Fritz said the spate of violence was clearly politically orchestrated.
“We have heard from about two formations, among them the ANC Youth League in the area, saying that they’re going to make the next 14 days in the area ungovernable. It’s sad to see how these formations use very ordinary people to exploit the whole thing around their own agenda.”
He said it appeared the protests were part of the build-up to the local government elections next year.
Fritz said ordinary people could not be held to ransom by this kind of behaviour. “There are these few people fuelled by criminality pushing the political agenda.”
He expressed concern that hundreds of people stood watching, yet nobody admitted knowing anything about the perpetrators.
“As long as communities shield these criminals, who disguise their actions as service delivery protests, the chaos will continue,” he said.
Fritz said two people had been arrested.
“I’ve asked that we build strong cases against them to secure convictions. Other people must know that if you disobey the law, you’ll land in prison,” said Fritz.
When the Weekend Argus team attempted to speak to residents living along Mew Way they were chased away by an angry mob.
- Weekend Argus
The third consecutive day of violence in Khayelitsha saw angry service delivery protesters open fire – apparently with live ammunition – at a security vehicle and hurl rocks and a petrol bomb at several other vehicles in Mew Way, a major through-road.
With blood pouring down his neck, Abdurahman Allie from Kensington said he had been on his way to Khayelitsha to drop off furniture when people threw rocks at his van.
“We were told the trouble was over, and that it was safe to come here, but just as we entered Mew Way, the people started throwing rocks,” he said.
Allie complained of dizziness after he was hit on the back of his head. He was treated at the scene by paramedics.
The occupants of an Isuzu bakkie narrowly escaped a fiery death when a petrol bomb was apparently hurled into the vehicle.
The men managed to get out, but could not save the steel rods they been transporting to a business.
“Luckily we escaped without injuries,” one of the workers said.
Deon Jordaan, from the Protea Coin Group, said protesters shot at their bakkie, with what appeared to be a 9mm firearm.
“We saw an Isuzu bakkie standing in the middle of the road and we wanted to turn back, but suddenly people started throwing stones,” he said.
Jordaan said they were on their way to help staff of one of their cash vehicles when they ran into trouble.
“If it wasn’t for the bulletproof windows, we would not be standing here,” Jordaan’s passenger added.
Simon Monde, who works at the Mdzananda animal clinic in Khayelitsha, said he had just dropped off dogs when his vehicle was pelted with stones.
Authorities later closed Mew Way saying it had become too dangerous for delivery and company vehicles.
Meanwhile the violence spilled over into Lansdowne Road, where residents tried to set a vehicle alight, but law enforcement officials quickly moved in.
Western Cape community safety MEC Albert Fritz, who was escorted to the scene of the protests under heavy police guard, said the torching of vehicles, barricading of roads and total disregard for the law was “nothing short of anarchy”.
And he laid the blame for the unrest at the door of the ANC Youth League, saying: “I just think they’re getting desperate politically and we know it’s the ANC Youth League, getting very desperate, inciting violence and making the area ungovernable.”
He said officials had warned delivery vehicles not to come into the area. “It’s not safe for them.”
Fritz said the spate of violence was clearly politically orchestrated.
“We have heard from about two formations, among them the ANC Youth League in the area, saying that they’re going to make the next 14 days in the area ungovernable. It’s sad to see how these formations use very ordinary people to exploit the whole thing around their own agenda.”
He said it appeared the protests were part of the build-up to the local government elections next year.
Fritz said ordinary people could not be held to ransom by this kind of behaviour. “There are these few people fuelled by criminality pushing the political agenda.”
He expressed concern that hundreds of people stood watching, yet nobody admitted knowing anything about the perpetrators.
“As long as communities shield these criminals, who disguise their actions as service delivery protests, the chaos will continue,” he said.
Fritz said two people had been arrested.
“I’ve asked that we build strong cases against them to secure convictions. Other people must know that if you disobey the law, you’ll land in prison,” said Fritz.
When the Weekend Argus team attempted to speak to residents living along Mew Way they were chased away by an angry mob.
- Weekend Argus
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