7 arrested as Primrose squatters protest over services

22 June 2016 - 15:48 By Ntwaagae Seleka

Angry residents of Makause squatter camp in Primrose‚ East Rand‚ blockaded roads protesting over service delivery on Wednesday.The residents caused mayhem on the streets surrounding the informal settlement‚ demanding a piece of land that they claimed the Ekurhuleni municipality promised them.Roads were blocked with various object as dwellers clashed with police.Vehicles passing near the area were also not spared by the unruly crowd who pelted them with stones forcing early traffic to divert to other routes.Community leader Jomo Ngwenya said they were demanding the Ekurhuleni municipality keeps its earlier promise of providing them with suitable land and basic services.Mandla Zulu‚ who has been residing in the area for eight years‚ complained about the lack of improvements and empty promises from government.Last year‚ scores of foreigners were left displaced and forced to seek refuge at the Primrose police station after locals chased them away from the squatter camp during violent xenophobic attacks.Their shacks and shops were looted by the mob.The foreigners‚ who all were from African countries‚ fled to the police in April fearing for their lives.Good Samaritans‚ government and various embassies assisted those who were interested in returning to their home countries with transport.Those who remained were provided with temporary shelter‚ food‚ clothes and other basic amenities for them and their children.Ekurhuleni municipality spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the protest was caused by a misunderstanding by the residents.Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mduduzi Nhlabathi said they have arrested seven people for service delivery and that they continue monitoring the area until calm is restored. TMG Digital/Sowetan..

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