/ 23 January 2014

Police arrest 15 people in Roodepoort protest

Two Social Justice Coalition activists have been arrested for the kidnapping and murder of a man they had allegedly been trying to rehabilitate.
Two Social Justice Coalition activists have been arrested for the kidnapping and murder of a man they had allegedly been trying to rehabilitate.

Fifteen people were arrested during protests at the Durban Deep informal settlement in Roodepoort, where a man was shot dead on Thursday, Gauteng police said.

"Police arrested 15 people for public violence. Police had to use rubber bullets to disperse the protesters," Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said.

Mogale said one protester was shot and killed by a police officer driving an unmarked vehicle.

"The police officer was driving through Durban Deep and was stopped by protesters who started shaking his vehicle. The officer fired warning shots and one protester was hit."

"The member, a warrant officer, allegedly fired warning shots. One of the protesters was injured and was certified dead at the hospital." The protest started around 6am on Main Reef road. Mogale said protesters were burning tree trunks and throwing stones at vehicles. A section of the road was closed, but later reopened.

A case of public violence was opened and the shooting was being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

She said public order police and Johannesburg metro police would monitor the situation to ensure no disruptions to traffic during peak hours.

DA spokesperson Mmusi Maimane was due to address residents of Durban Deep on Thursday afternoon.

"We are waiting for the family members of the man who was shot and killed by police this morning to come back from the police station, so that we can talk with them," Maimane said.

The Democratic Alliance wanted to talk with residents about their housing issues. – Sapa