Unrest again erupts after hostel residents walk out on Buthelezi during Jeppestown gathering (VIDEO)

Police urged people to stay away from Joburg CBD and MTN Taxi Rank after unrest again erupted this afternoon when scores of hostel residents walked out when former leader of IFP Mangosuthu Buthelezi addressed them at a gathering in Jeppestown.

#sapsGP Police caution community to stay away from the area around the MTN Taxi Rank and Johannesburg CBD following latest incidents of attacks on businesses. Police remain on high alert to ensure minimum damages and criminality. NPhttps://t.co/CbWtMqG8b5 pic.twitter.com/I5iKx6Nn7C

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 8, 2019

#sapsGP Update: Police can confirm that the situation in Johannesburg CBD, Jeppestown and Hillbrow is currently under control. Police have heightened visibility since this afternoon and will continue to monitor the area to ensure that no further incidents of violence erupt. NP pic.twitter.com/C4XStDsQ6f

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 8, 2019

Also read: Ward councillors condemn Joburg East looting and violence

North Eastern Tribune reported earlier that Buthelezi had arrived at about 1.30pm. Hostel residents were unhappy with Buthelezi’s plea for calm after last week’s outbreak of violence and looting of shops in Joburg areas, especially Malvern and Jeppestown.

It was reported that people called for undocumented foreign nationals to return to their countries.

⚠️ALERT⚠️
Unrest in the JHB CBD, members of public are warned to stay away from the area around Noord Str Taxi Rank & in Hillbrow this following incidents of attacks on businesses.
Rubber bullets used to disperse the different groups. @JoburgMPD @SAPoliceService on scene. pic.twitter.com/Gp0hYdSWUg

— AskTheChief01 #BuyaMthetho 🔥 (@David_S_Tembe) September 8, 2019

This afternoon Brigadier Mathapelo Peters issued a statement in which the police cautioned church-goers, shoppers and commuters to stay away from the area around the MTN Taxi Rank and Johannesburg CBD.

VTAC Intervention and S.W.A.T Units maintain visibility in #JoburgCBD with @JoburgMPD and @SAPoliceService officers. pic.twitter.com/BMALymk0qn

— Vision Tactical (@visiontactical) September 8, 2019

“A crowd of about 1 200 hostel residents gathered at Murray Park and shortly into the address by Buthelezi, a splinter group disrupted the address and left before proceedings were concluded,” said Peters.

Situation yase Jeppe is worrisome,can easily and very quickly go pear shaped

— Nodibhoza Son of Bhojwana (@mshengulala) September 8, 2019

Peters said reports of attacks on businesses in the CBD have been received and that police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to restrain the growing crowd. Many shops are currently closed while police remain on high alert.

#JoburgCBD Metro police have confirmed a fresh wave of protests in Johannesburg where a group of people from Jeppestown have trashed several shops in the CBD.

— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) September 8, 2019

Police have now cautioned law-abiding citizens to stay away from the Jeppestown area, MTN Taxi Rank and shops in the CBD.

Also read: Joburg shop owners remove goods from business premises to prevent further looting (Multimedia)

Last week Minister of Police Bheki Cele also visited Jeppestown where he met with Denver Hostel Induna following the outbreak of violence on September 1.

#JoburgCBD Minaar: They started marching from Murray Park in Jules Street and then moved towards Jeppe police station and also damaged shops near Maboneng.

— Nokukhanya ‘Siri’ Mntambo (@khanya_mntambo) September 8, 2019

These people have shut down maboneng. It's really hectic and bad.. If I are in the cbd and jeppe area stay indoors

— Mushavi🖤 (@miltonjunior03) September 8, 2019

Ekurhulenia activates joing operation centre

City of Ekurhuleni also announced this afternoon that followiong the outbreak of  xenophobic attacks it had established two sites that are currently housing about 800 displaced foreign nationals, 588 adults and 227 children.

The two sites, at DH Williams and Tsholo Hall in Katlehong, are housing foreign national that were displaced from Mandela Informal Settlement and Nhlapo Section in Katlehong, among other areas.

The city also activated the Joint Operation Centre (JOC) to provide humanitarian and related assistance to the affected persons, as well as stabilising the safety  in the region.

The following organisations, as well as other individuals, also donated to the cause to assist displaced persons

• Anglican Baptist Church
• 7^th Adventist Church
• Agape Family Church
• Rockville Baptist Church
• ANC Women’s League
• Foundation of Love