The communications official at Katlehong SAPS, Capt Mega Ndobe, said, “The residents from Ncala and Mavimbela Sections took their anger to Kgotso Street and surrounds by blocking the road to the two locations to protest against Eskom officials who were supposed to come to their houses and remove old meter boxes and replace them with new ones.”
Ndobe added that residents became angry and decided to prevent the movement of any transport entering the two townships by burning tyres on the road. “In the process, two trucks including the one from A&B Movers and the one from Blue Ribbon were burnt to ashes,” he said.
Ndobe said the police remained in the area to monitor the situation with the help of the EMPD to see if the roads would be cleared later on.
In the evening after the police had left the scene thinking that the situation was all under control, another incident happened when angry residents took their anger again to the railway line demanding attention and wanting to be heard. Two more vehicles were damaged.
“Two more vehicles – a Polo and another truck were also burnt in the evening just after the SAPS and EMPD had left the area,” confirmed Ndobe. “This happened immediately after the police, who were monitoring the scene, had left thinking the situation was under control,” said Ndobe.
He said the residents blocked the railway line for the train from Germiston to Kwesine Train Station. “This time residents even threatened to burn the schools around the area if they are not heard.”
Police are investigating the crime around the burning of the four vehicles.
The Katlehong Police issued statements warning motorists to avoid using the roads entering the townships as it was dangerous to do so.
