http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20071102033118781C951872

November 02 2007 at 08:15AM

Two people were wounded by rubber bullets and 12 others arrested during a protest that was sparked by news that residents would be moved from their homes in Diepsloot, north of Jo’burg.

Residents said the injured were a woman, who was on her knees cleaning her house early on Thursday morning when she was shot, as well as a schoolchild who was walking in the area when the shooting started.

According to Paulus Ntsooa, the deputy director of housing in the City of Joburg, the council was supposed to relocate families living on the floodline to what is known as the Adelaide Tambo Emergency Settlement in Diepsloot.

“What made the matter urgent was that a person had died during the floods that swept the area two weeks ago.”

Ntsooa said they had relocated more than 1 200 families since December 2006 and were supposed to move more on Thursday.

However, he said, one of their officials was assaulted by members of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and their vehicles were stoned when they arrived in the area.

“Some people from Sanco confronted our officials and manhandled one of them. Their intent was to disrupt the relocation. Those people do not even live in the floodline,” Ntsooa said.

Another relocation was planned for 22 families who live in an area earmarked for the development of a road.

Chris Vondo, secretary of the ANC in Zone 14, said residents had been notified and knew that they were going to be moved.

Inspector Paul Ramaloko of the Tshwane police said the 12 people arrested were charged with public violence for throwing stones at the police.

An attempt to obtain comment from Sanco in Diepsloot was unsuccessful.