As another 30 people were arrested in a protest on Tuesday, this time in Sebokeng in the Vaal triangle, political parties urged the government to speed up service delivery to angry communities.
”Is the [provincial minister] going to finally do something about service delivery or are more communities going to have to riot before there is provision of houses, electricity, piped water, usable roads, schools and clinics? Today it is the turn of Sebokeng, tomorrow where will it be next?” Paul Willemburg, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on local government in Gauteng, asked in a statement.
”I appeal to residents in Sebokeng to remain calm. Don’t destroy property as it is unlikely that it will be replaced in a hurry. By all means protest but do so peacefully and without getting hurt. We need you. You are the voters that can turn things around in the next election,” he said.
Six people were injured during the protest, which began with the erection of burning barricades on Moshoeshoe Road at 4am and the stoning of vehicles, police said.
A group called the Cape Anti-War Forum said they had been shot by rubber bullets. Police spokesperson Captain William Mcera said police had fired blanks, but would investigate the claim.
”We don’t know if they were hurt by stones or if it was bullets, we will investigate,” said Mcera.
Following damage to signal systems, Metrorail decided to terminate its service out of Johannesburg at Residensia instead of travelling through the protests to Vereeniging.
Ben Ntulwane, a media contact for the protesters, said their core demands were for proper housing and sanitation and that the mayor address them and listen to their grievances.
The National Democratic Convention’s Margaret Arnolds called on the local and national minister of local government and housing to look into issues surrounding housing and service delivery.
”This seems to [be] becoming a burning issue in all provinces in the country,” said Arnolds.
”Scenes like the one in Sebokeng can be prevented.” — Sapa