Burning barricades removed
2004-05-11 11:30
Pretoria - Burning barricades have been removed and an angry crowd has been dispersed on the R511 at Diepsloot outside Pretoria.
An angry crowd gathered at Diepsloot after 12 people were evacuated from RDP houses they illegally occupied.
The homes form part of the Tshwane metropolitan council's housing programme.
Inspector Percy Morokane for Pretoria area commissioner said the 12, eight men and two women, moved into new RDP houses in Diepsloot informal settlement two weeks ago.
They were instructed to evacuate the homes, as others had been waitlisted for them.
Police, acting on a court order obtained by the metropolitan council, evacuated them early on Tuesday morning. The 12 people were arrested for contempt of court and impeding the police in execution of their work.
A crowd, angry about the arrests, set alight tyres on the busy R511. Stone throwers damaged a police car.
Nobody was injured and after negotiations between police and leaders in the crowd, the people dispersed.
The twelve were held at the Erasmia police station.