About 17 people were allegedly arrested following protest action in Rondebult Road on March 3.
Community members barricaded the road with burning tyres in the early hours of the morning.
Ward 33 councillor Ashley Hoods said: “I’ve learned unofficially that the protest pertains to title deeds that the residents of Comet Village are demanding from the City of Ekurhuleni and the MMC for Human Settlements, Lesiba Mpya.
“The MMC did meet with community leaders just recently to try and put the matter to rest as a development project has been halted in the area in the wake of the demands for the title deeds.”
One of the protesters, who wished to remain anonymous, said residents protested because they wanted Mpya to address them.
“The MMC promised us title deeds to our houses about a year ago and we still haven’t received anything. Now we heard about a housing development project and we’re afraid that we’re going to lose our houses if we don’t get title deeds,” he said.
He said that the protesters did not want to fight; they only wanted to speak with MMC.
“It wasn’t a violent strike. I believe some protesters only threw rocks at two vehicles because we blocked the road and the motorists were speeding to get past us. This is why we don’t know why the police shot at us with rubber bullets.”
The protester said that Mpya will now address the community on March 6, adding they will take to their anger to the streets again if he does not meet with them.
He added that they are going to hand over a memorandum of their grievances to the MMC at the meeting.
The police spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the matter.
The Advertiser is still awaiting comment from the metro.
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