Soshanguve still on edge after battles with police

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Soshanguve still on edge after battles with police January 12, 2006

By Graeme Hosken

A tense calm descended on Soshanguve late yesterday as pockets of angry residents were still caught in a standoff with police.

This follows violent clashes and running street battles in the township, 25km north-west of Pretoria. Thousands of people took to the streets early yesterday, barricading several roads leading into the township with uprooted trees, boulders and burning tyres, in protest over a lack of service delivery.

The clashes saw protesters hurling stones at security personnel, who responded by firing rubber bullets, wounding several people.

Several policemen were injured when rioters stoned their vehicle as they tried to disperse a crowd trying to barricade a road with burning tyres.

Police spokesperson Inspector Lucas Sithole said: “We have a strong police presence and have stepped up patrols in the area to ensure there is no more trouble.” He also confirmed that a police sergeant was in a serious but stable condition after being hit on the neck by a stone.

Sithole said five people had been arrested and would appear in court on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.

The protests, which saw 10 areas inside the township being blocked off, lasted more than 12 hours. The battles left hundreds of commuters and schoolchildren stranded, because taxis and buses were prevented from entering the area.

Angry residents demanded that the Tshwane Metro Council immediately develop essential services such as running water, sanitation, refuse removal and electricity in their areas.

Resident Daniel Ndlovu said: “The council thinks that because we are poor and live in underprivileged areas they do not have to provide running water and electricity.” Ndlovu, a community representative in Soshanguve’s Block P, one of the areas barricaded by rioters, added: “It is so simple. All we are demanding is what we have been promised for the past 13 years …

“If they do not, then we will bring chaos and anarchy to Pretoria.”
Mayoral representative Elias Motloutse confirmed that they had agreed to meet with community representatives today to try to find a way of overcoming the problems and stemming the violence.

“We have assured residents that plans are under way too start developing the different areas so that they can be provided with the services they require,” he said.