Claims that man died in Gauteng unrest untrue‚ say police

10 May 2017 - 15:39 By Bongani Nkosi
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Residents of Itireleng informal settlements in Laudium speak to police and council. File photo.
Residents of Itireleng informal settlements in Laudium speak to police and council. File photo.
Image: Alain-Vilakazi via Twitter

Police have rejected claims that a man died at a service delivery protest at Itireleng‚ an informal community near Laudium‚ west of Tshwane.

Residents took to the streets in the early hours of Wednesday‚ blocking the busy R55 freeway leading to Sandton‚ Johannesburg.

They demanded proper roads and housing‚ electricity and water‚ maintaining that they have been promised these services for many years.

Claims started circulating on social media that a man was attacked and killed during the protest.

Activist Yusuf Abramjee posted a picture of the allegedly killed man. “This man attacked has just died‚” he tweeted.

He later retracted this‚ tweeting: “Reports that a man has died are incorrect. Seriously injured.”

Speaking to reporters at the R55‚ Major-General Tommy Mthombeni‚ police cluster commander of Tshwane West‚ said the man had not died.

“I got that report as well [that a person had been killed]. We had to send police to a specific address where it was indicated [he died].

“At this stage I can confirm that there's no person who has died. We had one person reported injured and was taken to the clinic for medical treatment‚” Mthombeni said.

Mthombeni confirmed that the man was attacked by some of the protesters.

The R55 has now been cleared. Said Mthombeni: “Things have subsided.

“The MMC [responsible for housing in Tshwane‚ Mandla Nkomo] addressed the protesters and indicated whatever is the position of council. From there‚ people dispersed.

“But in terms of policing we are still patrolling inside Laudium to prevent unforeseen circumstances that might arise.”

- TMG Digital/SowetanLIVE

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