4 articles from The Star on protests in Protea South, Soweto

http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20070904081716826C792156

Soweto councillor’s house burnt down
4 September 2007, 08:33

The home of a councillor who tried to intervene during the Protea South protests was burnt down on Monday night, Soweto police said on Tuesday.

Captain Jacqueline Mbatha said the woman, who was not at home at the time, had opened a case of malicious damage to property at the police station.

Her house was set on fire around 9pm on Tuesday.

“They [some of the residents] feel she is not doing enough for them,” said Mbatha.

On Monday, police and Protea South residents clashed after about 500 protesters barricaded roads and began throwing stones and vandalising property over poor service delivery.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets and water canons into the crowd.

Mbatha said the councillor had tried to address the crowd around 1pm when they started swearing at her and throwing stones.

The councillor was taken away from the crowd for her own safety.

Mbatha said about 50 metro police and South African Police Service members were monitoring the scene on Tuesday. – Sapa

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http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20070903224528556C668580

Soweto police on guard after violent protests
3 September 2007, 23:32

Police in Soweto were keeping an eye on the situation at Protea South after nightfall following a clash with about 500 angry protesters on Monday.

“We are still monitoring the situation but it’s calm now,” Captain Jacqueline Mbatha told Sapa after 7pm.

During the day, a man was killed during the fracas which saw crowds throw stones at police after barricading the main road early in the morning over poor service delivery.

The protesters also vandalised lamp posts.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd “to scare them”.

A 44-year-old man was knocked over and killed by a bakery van in the vicinity of the protest.

The Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) said the man, who was a member of the community, had been taking part in the protest when he was knocked over.

Mbatha said tension had subsided by mid-morning but the crowd again began throwing stones and swearing when a councillor tried to address them just before 1pm.

The councillor was taken away from the crowd for his own safety.

Journalists also found themselves in the stoning line.

Tracy Lee Stark from the Mail & Guardian had been standing behind a police car just before 1pm when the crowd started throwing stones.

“I was standing behind the police vehicle, everything was calm, they [the protesters] just started throwing stones and whacked me on the head,” she said.

Earlier, a photographer from the Beeld newspaper was hit on the head with a stone or a brick. He was taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

She said several arrests for public violence had been made.

The APF condemned the police’s “indiscriminate use of violence” against protesters.

“The APF demands that police immediately stop their continued harassment of journalists and general community members and stop the continued violation and invasion of residents’ homes,” the organisation said in a statement.

Mbatha said there had also been protests over service delivery in Kliptown but the situation was under control and there had been no reported acts of public violence.

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http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20070903130235289C949394

Police clash with Soweto protesters
3 September 2007, 15:18

Police in Soweto were firing water and rubber bullets into a crowd of more than 500 angry protesters in Protea South on Monday.

Protesters had begun barricading the main road around 6am on Monday over poor service delivery.

They were also vandalising lamp posts and throwing stones.

A councillor who tried to intervene hid away in an armed vehicle when the violence broke out again just before 1pm.

Journalists also found themselves in the stoning line.

Tracy Lee Stark from the Mail & Guardian had been standing behind a police car just before 1pm when the crowd started throwing stones.

“I was standing behind the police vehicle, everything was calm, they [the protesters] just started throwing stones and whacked me on the head,” she said.

Earlier, a photographer from the Beeld newspaper was hit on the head with a stone or a brick. He was taken away from the scene in an ambulance.

The Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) condemned police’s “indiscriminate use of violence” against protesters.

“The APF demands that police immediately stop their continued harassment of journalists and general community members and stop the continued violation and invasion of residents’ homes,” the organisation said in a statement.

Earlier a 44-year-old man was knocked over and killed by a bakery van in the vicinity of the protest.

The APF said the man, who was a member of the community, had been taking part in the protest when he was knocked over.

Police Captain Jacqueline Mbatha said the situation in Protea South was calmer around noon.

“The situation is now under control,” she said.

She said several arrests for public violence had been made.

She could not immediately comment on protests and arrests in Kliptown. – Sapa

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Situation in Soweto ‘not stable’
3 September 2007, 11:28

Soweto police were trying to clear the streets of about 150 protesters who had barricaded the main road in Protea South on Monday over poor service delivery.

Earlier a 44-year-old man was knocked over and killed by a bakery van in the vicinity of the protest, but it was not known if he had been one of the protesters.

Captain Jacqueline Mbatha said residents had begun barricading the roads with tyres, stones and rubbish at around 6am.

“The situation is not yet stable. Police are clearing the streets,” she said around 10am.

Mbatha said police had fired rubber bullets into the crowd after angry protesters had thrown stones at them.

Several arrests had been made. – Sapa

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http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20070903083752529C699982

Soweto residents barricade road
3 September 2007, 08:58

About 100 protesters barricaded a main road in Protea South in Soweto on Monday over poor service delivery, Soweto police said.

A 44-year-old man had been knocked over and killed by a bakery van in the vicinity of the protest but it was not known if he had been one of the protesters.

Captain Jacqueline Mbatha said residents had barricaded the roads with tyres, stones and rubbish around 6am on Monday.

At 8am the roads had been opened and police were monitoring the scene.

The van drove away before anyone could take down its registration number, she said. – Sapa