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100s protest for housing, water
21/04/2008 17:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - About 500 protesters from an informal settlement blocked the entrance to a street in Lenasia South on Monday, Johannesburg police said.
Spokesperson Inspector Mpho Kgafoane said residents from the Hospital Hills informal settlement have started gathering again on Sheffield Street and have blocked the road once again.
"No one can enter the street at this stage. There have been no stoning incidents and the protesters are relatively quiet."
"There is a heavy police presence at the scene," she said.
On Monday protesters torched a security vehicle and robbed a butchery of all its meat.
The protests began on Sunday over the service delivery of the local ward councillor, Paul Molutsi.
"Molutsi was having a meeting with the residents of the informal settlement when the crowd became angry.
"They were unhappy that their electricity, housing and water needs had not been met," she said.
According to the police, residents started protesting by blocking off Sheffield Street and stoning police and police vehicles.
Two police vehicles were damaged on Sunday and some police officers sustained minor injuries.
"Twenty-three people were arrested during protests on Sunday," Kgafoane said.
Those arrested were to be charged with causing a public disturbance and would appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court soon, police said.
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