Diepsloot erupts into violence

2004-07-06 21:22

Johannesburg - Protests at Diepsloot spun out of control by on Tuesday evening as residents threw stones at vehicles on the R511 between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

A substantial number of vehicles were damaged and some cars made hasty u-turns as stones hit their car windows.

Two armoured personnel carriers were on the scene and water cannons were used to disperse people.

The R511, an artery that had been closed for most of the day, would remain closed until further notice, Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Tuesday evening.

Residents protesting against rumours that they were about to be moved to Brits also burnt tyres, threw stones at police and burnt bushes.

One resident said the violence would not stop until the release of 19 people who were arrested on charges of arson and public violence.

"The people are angry. This is God's way of showing their anger. We cannot stay in shacks when officials live nicely," he said.

"(Gauteng premier Mbhazima) Shilowa is the only person who can sort this out. He works very hard, but the people who work for him are corrupt."

The rioters were demanding the release of the 19 people arrested during two days of protests.

The violence followed a brief lull after an address by Pule Buthelezi, the general secretary of the ANC in the Johannesburg region.

Police were maintaining a presence at some distance from the protesters.

Buthelezi had told residents the ANC, SA National Civic Organisation, councillors and community leaders would meet to try to resolve their problems.

"Whoever says that people are going to move from Diepsloot is lying," Buthelezi said, adding that the leaders would return to the area on Wednesday to inform residents of the outcome of their discussions.

"There are people who do not want to see peace among ourselves," he said.

Rumour sparked protests

The protests began on Monday after a rumour started circulating that Diepsloot residents were to be relocated.

Gauteng housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane said in a statement on Tuesday: "I wish to assure people affected by this fictitious rumour that the Gauteng provincial government and the City of Johannesburg have at no stage contemplated to move Diepsloot residents to Brits."

She dismissed the rumours as "incorrect and misleading".

The City of Johannesburg also issued a statement on Tuesday saying there were "no immediate or future plans" to relocate residents.

Residents of Diepsloot - partly an informal settlement, partly proper housing - claimed a local councillor Sarafina Mulaudzi had told them they would be moved to Brits on July 14.

The community was moved to Diepsloot, north west of Johannesburg, in 2000 from Alexandra, Johannesburg, after the Jukskei River flooded.

- SAPA