Three men were arrested in the early hours of Thursday in connection with a violent protest over service delivery in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, police said.
”We arrested three men shortly after midnight this morning on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property, following the protests by residents of Orange Farm informal settlement in Soshanguve on Wednesday,” said Inspector Lucas Sithole.
Sithole said five other men had been arrested on the same charges shortly after the protests on Wednesday, during which a police sergeant was injured when a stone was thrown at his neck.
The men are to appear in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court shortly.
Protesters blocked off Soutpan and Hammanskraal roads with objects including burning tyres.
”Following yesterday’s protests, a representative of the Tshwane municipality met with the residents and promised a meeting would be held with them today [Thursday].
”They then dispersed and the situation in the area has calmed down.”
Sithole said, however, there is an increased police presence in the area.
Last week, police said an estimated 80 to 100 protesters blocked off the same roads and another police officer was injured when a stone was hurled at his head by one of the crowd.
Among the causes of the protests was a misunderstanding about infrastructure plans between the council and the community, William Baloyi, spokesperson for Tshwane mayor Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, said last week after meeting community members.
He said there had been a misunderstanding about the relocation of some residents in Orange Farm whose informal homes were built below the flood line.
Baloyi said the council intends to provide roads, sanitation and electricity for all the residents but only once those who live below the flood line have been moved to a safer location. — Sapa