Residents of West Village had to dodge rubber bullets recently when police tried to scare them off during a service delivery protest.
The protesters started closing the roads leading in and out of the village early on Thursday, June 30.
Also read: Tension at West Village as disgruntled residents block R28 with burning tyres, rocks
The protest came after residents had to endure days without electricity. This was also not the first time.
For months the community have been complaining about service delivery. In addition to being without water and electricity they also have to endure continues attacks by illegal miners who try to take over the village.
We are tired,” was the sentiment most residents shared with the News.
They added that this was the only way for them to get noticed.
When the News was on scene there were a number of police vehicles including a police Nyala. Andre Shannon, a community leader commented that it was interesting to see that the police could send out so many vehicles to get the residents to stop closing the roads, but when they phoned about illegal miners attacking them they were told there were no vehicles available.
Sadly many residents who spoke to the News echoed these sentiments, with one of the residents saying that he stood in his home watching the illegal miners using an AK-47 and when he phoned the police he was told that it was neither their ward nor their problem.
After News journalist, Natasha Pretorius left the scene the police started firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
Jannie Grobler told the News that while they were waiting for the Mogale City mayor to come and speak to them, an 18-wheeler truck tried to get through their barricades of burning tyres. When residents tried to stop it the police started firing shots.
An elderly resident shared a photo of her bullet wound and said she believed her hand was broken.
It is also alleged that they asked their ward councillor to come and listen to their complaints but he refused.
Residents said they didn’t want to harm anyone, they only want services and to feel safe in their own homes.
