Land grab shootout

A land grab in Video informal settlement near Muldersdrift culminated in private security guards shooting at belligerent residents who retaliated by stoning cars driving through the settlement’s main road on Tuesday afternoon.

Spokesman for the Krugersdorp SAPS cluster, Hitler Ngwenya, vehemently denied the shooting by the infamous Red Ants who drove into the settlement in a convoy of white pick up trucks with gun touting guards at the back in a war like maneuver shooting at the running residents. “I am saying that I have not seen them shooting rubber bullets or anything. I don’t know if they have shot,” denied Ngwenya.

“Members dispersed the crowd using rubber bullets and no one has been reported injured,” he added.

The police stationed themselves at the intersection of R114 and Elandsdrift roads, from which they walked into the settlement with their rifles to disperse the crowds and remove the rocks, tyres and logs used by the residents to block Elandsdrift road. One Nyala and police vans drove in behind the officers who were on foot.

The Red Ants drove on the same road in high speed firing at the residents. They made several trips into the settlement, routinely shooting at the residents.

The chaos started on Monday, according to one resident, but the land grab only started on Tuesday morning. “They were chanting from yesterday. They say they don’t want the foreigners. People took stands this morning,” said Tebogo Mokwena, a resident of Video since 2010.

EFF representative, Katlego Mofokeng said that the party was there to support the community. “The community is complaining that the undeveloped land is used by illegal immigrants to rob and rape.

“We are here to pledge our support and solidarity,” said Mofokeng. Mofokeng confirmed that in his knowledge the land invasion only started on Tuesday morning. “Police and the Red Ants dispersed the crowd and demolished their shacks. The Red Ants are actually doing police work, they are also dispersing the crowd,” added Mofokeng.

A community leader who did not want to be named, said that what was happening in Video was a service delivery protest. “What we are fighting for here is that Councillor Selibo Molefi, for almost five years, told us that government bought the land across the road for the community,” said the community leader. Some residents were stranded on the wrong side of the settlement amid the shooting.

“I am from work, I don’t know anything. I am trying to pass and go to Chesampama to fetch my child at the crèche,” said Tefelo Nonyane, a young mother unable to negotiate her way through the volatile settlement to fetch her child from nursery school in another section.

The owner of the land that was being grabbed opened a case of illegal land occupation, prompting the police to act. “We are investigating public violence. There is a case opened by the owner of the land. A case of illegal occupation of land.

“One shack was erected on his land and it was demolished,” confirmed Ngwenya. “No arrest as yet. We have public order police and we will be looking after this area for the night,” added Ngwenya.

The settlement remains volatile and the Red Ants, more than the police, show great determination to fight against the regrouping crowds who are equally determined to prolong their protests. The police closed R114, preventing cars from turning into this road from Beyers Naude road, while other police cars patrolled the N14 highway, which passes behind the settlement. Red Ants are commonly hired to carryout evictions and to demolish dwellings in land grab cases, it is however the first time that they are seen carrying out police work.