Mayor asks Ekurhuleni residents to give him time on land

Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele on Sunday asked for more time to address Daveyton residents' concerns over land.

"We are aware of the challenges and we need time to address them," he told a crowd at the Sinaba stadium.

He said the mayoral committee would conduct a housing audit and compile a list of people who qualified for RDP houses, especially those living in back rooms. The committee was expected to finalise the audit by next month.

Some people booed and started leaving as Gungubele began to speak. Ward councillor Victor Chiloane called for calm and said the meeting was for people who had concerns, not a place for disruptions.

Gungubele said an investigation would be conducted into allegations of corruption. Residents had claimed officials and councillors took bribes to give houses to people.

Gungubele called on locals to stop protesting and allow schools and businesses to operate.

"It is an important time for matriculants who are going to write exams soon," he told the crowd.

Earlier hundreds of people sang and danced as they made their way into the stadium. Many carried placards with the words "stop selling RDP houses" and "we want land".

Residents began protesting on Monday after they tried to illegally invade land and police prevented them from doing so. Protesters blockaded roads in the area with rocks, tree-trunks, tyres, and other objects.

A number of foreign-owned shops were looted on Tuesday.

"Criminal elements organised themselves into small groups of between six and 12 people and went and looted different shops from around sunset yesterday [Tuesday] until around 9pm," Ekurhuleni metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said on Wednesday.

Six people were arrested for the looting.