http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=nw20090722100936156C937701

Residents blocking R59 nabbed
22 July 2009, 10:10
By Beauregard Tromp

At least 20 people were injured and 20 others arrested on Tuesday morning when residents of Pielie’s Farm in Meyerton, 20km south of Joburg, erected barricades on the R59 highway and pelted passing motorists with stones.

Residents of the informal settlement hid behind shacks flimsy corrugated the cover of as police in full riot gear, armed with shotguns and backed by two Nyalas, went in to the settlement, seeking out those involved in the protest action.

About 30 police officers chased the residents. The residents were chased from the highway by about 30 police officers across the open veld into the informal settlement. As they went after police chased the protesters into the maze of shacks, they fired at point-blank range at anybody lingering outside the dwellings.

Earlier, a group of about 300 residents of the settlement had blocked off the highway in both directions, affecting traffic to and from Vereeniging.

This came after The action came about after a group of 20 families were evicted by the Red Ants from Beers Farm, 5km up the road, a month ago. The families were initially moved to another ward, where they were chased away by local residents who accused them of coming to steal their houses. The families were dumped at Pielie’s Farm were there’s an established informal settlement last week.