http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20100304042029143C870851

Click here to see some pictures.

By Poloko Tau

Petrol-bomb flames licked at the bodywork of a police Nyala armoured vehicle as it manoeuvred through a barricaded street in Meyerton, south of Joburg.

Not even the presence of Vaal resident and Gauteng MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mthimkhulu could calm the Vaal town’s angry residents yesterday.

The protesters vowed not to disperse until families who had their furniture confiscated by the Midvaal municipality had their possessions returned, even after Mbatha-Mthimkhulu told them she had obtained an undertaking from the council to return the impounded furniture.

Meanwhile, Midvaal mayor Timothy Nast was ready to speak to the community, but the closest he could get to the protesters was about 300m, in an Nyala. The residents refused to listen to him until they had seen that the furniture had been returned.

A stalemate was reached, and the next few hours of waiting were tense.

Then, having lost their patience, the angry residents gave vent to their frustration. They started throwing stones and several petrol bombs at the police.

Mbatha-Mthimkhulu and Nast were bundled into the back of a police car, which sped to safety as the situation quickly became more volatile.

After the officials had disappeared, there were running battles between the police and the crowd. Officers fired rubber bullets at the protesters, who threw stones and petrol bombs at them.

When the Nyala drove into the township in pursuit of the mob, it was hit by a petrol bomb.

Speaking to residents later, some of them admitted owing the council money, but complained that it had attached furniture belonging to residents registered as indigents.

“Besides being indigents, there was no notice or a chance given to them to arrange for payment terms. This was unfair, but the council did not see it in that way and residents decided to protest to prevent more furniture being confiscated,” said resident Amelia Tshukudu.

Mbatha-Mthimkhulu said the council had admitted its mistake. “A list was given to the sheriff in which there was no indication as to who were indigents. This protest would not have happened had they not attached the possessions of indigents,” she said.

“The ward councillor was also not informed of the council’s intentions, as would have been normal procedure. People need to be informed of procedures,” she added.

Nast said the protest had “nothing to do with service delivery”.

“It is an ANC factional fight to make the Democratic Alliance-led municipality un-governable. These are people vying for positions in the coming local government elections,” he said.

“Some people in the municipality won’t pay, and they’re not indigents. We’ve made it clear that those who can’t afford to pay for services are welcome to apply for indigence.”

Last night the town was calm. Police said they had arrested 14 people for public violence.

Police spokesman Constable Tikoane Sonopo said the streets were still barricaded with rocks and burning tyres. “We will continue monitoring the situation throughout the night,” he said.