Gauteng protests still on
2010-03-16 15:21
Johannesburg - Service delivery protests continued in Gauteng on Tuesday, Johannesburg metro police say.
Inspector Edna Mamonyane said metro police had to disperse protesters at Poortjie, west of Johannesburg, along the Randfontein road.
"They demand that a councillor must step down... We dispersed the crowd along the road and stopped them from blocking it," she said.
She said the situation was calm, but that metro police officers were monitoring conditions.
"We have to ensure that passing motorists are not stoned and the road is not blocked to disrupt traffic flow."
She said there was another protest in Ennerdale extension four, south of Johannesburg.
"The situation there is under control. There has been no report of violence."
On Monday, irate residents of Kanana, Phomolong and Rabie Ridge went on the rampage, blocking Modderfontein road, near Midrand, and Mayibuye and Republic roads with stones and burning tyres.
They were demanding RDP houses.
Police fired rubber bullets when the crowd become unruly and pelted police vans with stones.
Forty-two of them were arrested for public violence. They were later released on warning.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Joyce Setshedi said the situation was calm on Tuesday, but police would continue to monitor the area.
- SAPA