Quiet New Year in Hillbrow

2009-01-01 07:18

Johannesburg - Hillbrow, notorious for its New Year's mayhem, was more subdued this year after a downpour of rain. Rain's the best policeman, say police.

Police had blockaded Hillbrow in attempt to make crowd control easier for New Year, an attempt made moot by the rain and thunderstorms that hit around 22:00.

They patrolled the cordoned areas with a few fast moving bakkies and cars, but their vehicle of choice was the seven-ton Nyala, personnel carrier.

As one rumbled into the Gauteng Provincial South African Police Service parking lot, it seemed as though it would engulf the smaller cars nearby.

No chances

"We don't like to take chances," said Inspector Tsanku Tsunke.

The heavily armoured vehicles are necessary thanks to a Hillbrow New Year's tradition: throwing anything large, heavy or merely convenient off of rooftops onto the street below.

Police had pre-empted much of this with helicopter patrols during the week that spotted where Hillbrow revellers had stockpiled stoves, refrigerators and mattresses in preparation for New Year's Eve.

After sighting the potential projectiles, police would approach the building owners who would then remove the potential projectiles from their roofs.

Although these efforts reduced the amount getting tossed of roofs, Hillbrow residents didn't disappoint. Throughout the night bottles and bricks were thrown into the street below, sometimes at vehicles and often pedestrians.

One reveller, with enough accuracy to make a decent fast bowler, came within a meter of sending a bottle into the open door of a Nyala.

People ran to shelters

Pedestrians on a leisurely stroll are a rare sight on any Hillbrow night. But the hail of glass and stone caused people to run desperately from one shelter to another.

It was a shocking sight to see mothers running as well, the babies strapped to their backs were no deterrent to the hooligans above.

Police were out in force. Opperman said that every available police officer, including ones who normally do administrative police work, were out on the streets.

"In the end, thanks to the rain they were less busy than they had anticipated - and grateful for it", said Opperman.

One person was injured. A Midrand man was shot in the leg by a group of men while he visited his brother in Hillbrow.

"When they saw me coming they shot me in the feet," the man said. He received help from security guards who flagged down a police vehicle. He was taken to a hospital by paramedics.

In addition to this, Opperman said that a fight between some young men had to be broken up. He attributed the fight to alcohol.

"Liquor makes them brave," said Opperman.

But rain keeps them inside.

- SAPA