Eerste River - Beer bottles and stones came flying from one direction while teargas and rubber bullets came from the other direction on Thursday when residents of Eerste River and police clashed over a housing project.
The community was reacting to the Western Cape department of housing's decision to give houses from the Our Pride project in Eerste River to beneficiaries from Gugulethu.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Annacletta Mothoala, community members became rowdy when they were informed of the decision.
"People on Wednesday night went to illegally occupy the houses so that Gugulethu residents would not be able to move in on Saturday. Some of the doors were kicked in."
She said stones and empty beer bottles were thrown at police when they wanted to remove the trespassers from the premises. A policeman was slightly injured.
Two women and five men were arrested for trespassing and for taking part in an illegal march.
They were expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Houses being guarded
Police on Thursday afternoon stood guard in front of the houses and monitored the situation. They earlier had to drive away rowdy residents with rubber bullets and teargas.
Zalisile Mbali, spokesperson for Western Cape housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, said the incident had taken them by surprise.
"We spoke to the people from the beginning and resolved disputes. They were informed that 300 of the houses would go to people from Eerste River while the other 300 would be given to families in Gugulethu," he explained.
He added it was unacceptable that people who had not applied for housing had occupied the houses.
"These houses have already been assigned to beneficiaries. There are people who waited patiently for their homes."
An Eerste River resident, Martha Wilson, said: "Our own people in Eerste River don't have houses. The people are all staying in shacks."
In the background there was being yelled: "It's our community. We will show you."
A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, warned that they would burn down the houses.
"Rather give the houses to black people from Eerste River. I don't want people from Gugulethu here," she said.
- Die Burger
The community was reacting to the Western Cape department of housing's decision to give houses from the Our Pride project in Eerste River to beneficiaries from Gugulethu.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Annacletta Mothoala, community members became rowdy when they were informed of the decision.
"People on Wednesday night went to illegally occupy the houses so that Gugulethu residents would not be able to move in on Saturday. Some of the doors were kicked in."
She said stones and empty beer bottles were thrown at police when they wanted to remove the trespassers from the premises. A policeman was slightly injured.
Two women and five men were arrested for trespassing and for taking part in an illegal march.
They were expected to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Houses being guarded
Police on Thursday afternoon stood guard in front of the houses and monitored the situation. They earlier had to drive away rowdy residents with rubber bullets and teargas.
Zalisile Mbali, spokesperson for Western Cape housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, said the incident had taken them by surprise.
"We spoke to the people from the beginning and resolved disputes. They were informed that 300 of the houses would go to people from Eerste River while the other 300 would be given to families in Gugulethu," he explained.
He added it was unacceptable that people who had not applied for housing had occupied the houses.
"These houses have already been assigned to beneficiaries. There are people who waited patiently for their homes."
An Eerste River resident, Martha Wilson, said: "Our own people in Eerste River don't have houses. The people are all staying in shacks."
In the background there was being yelled: "It's our community. We will show you."
A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, warned that they would burn down the houses.
"Rather give the houses to black people from Eerste River. I don't want people from Gugulethu here," she said.
- Die Burger
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