/ 4 March 2010

Meyerton quiet following protests

Meyerton had quietened down on Thursday morning after residents continued burning tyres during the night, Gauteng police said.

“Things are okay at Meyerton this morning. The children are going to school and vehicles are passing through Johan le Roux road. There are no protests,” said police spokesperson Constable Tikoane Sonopo.

People were protesting because some of their belongings were confiscated for unpaid rates and taxes.

But Sonopo said their possessions were returned to them on Wednesday.

“Representatives of the community and the municipality sat down and negotiated how they were going to solve the problem,” he said.

“During the night [Wednesday night] they were still burning tyres, but now everything is under control.”

The police had to fire rubber bullets on Wednesday when protesters threw stones and petrol bombs at officials. — Sapa