Lenasia service-delivery protest turns violent

A vehicle was burnt and a butchery was robbed during the early hours of Monday morning as residents of an informal settlement in Lenasia South protested against poor service delivery, Johannesburg police said.

Inspector Mpho Kgafoane said residents from the Hospital Hills informal settlement started protesting on Sunday over the service delivery of local ward councillor Paul Molutsi.

“Molutsi was having a meeting with the residents of the informal settlement when the crowd became angry. They were unhappy that their electricity, housing and water needs had not been met,” she said.

According to the police, residents started protesting by blocking off Fairfield Street and stoning police and police vehicles.

Two police vehicles were damaged on Sunday and some police officers sustained minor injuries.

“Twenty-three people were arrested during protests on Sunday,” Kgafoane said.

“This morning [Monday] residents burned down a security vehicle that tried to pass through the blocked street and robbed a butchery of all its meat.”

Those arrested were to be charged with causing a public disturbance and would appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court soon, police said.

The situation on Monday morning was calm but police were still patrolling the area, said Kgafoane.—Sapa