PICS: Cops fire rubber bullets at protesters in Soshanguve

The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the SAPS fired rubber bullets and tear gas in Soshanguve Block KK yesterday as people barricaded the road early in the morning, protesting against poor service delivery.

According to community leader Gift Moyo, the City of Tshwane in 2014 promised to relocate them to a new area and build proper houses. But that didn’t happen.

Moyo said they were living in terrible conditions because they always suffered when it rained and electricity cables ran along the ground.

“We were promised to be relocated but … we are still waiting. There’s a budget speech [this week] and we hear that we are not part of it,” Moyo said.

Residents of Soshanguve Block KK are seen singing and dancing during a service delivery protest, they demand to have proper electricity and housing and vowed to continue their protest untill their needs are met, 17 May 2017, Soshanguve, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Soshanguve Block KK resident Bongani Mabena said they were tired of empty promises made by the city.

“These guys asked [us] to vote to create change, but we were actually creating change so that they can feed their stomachs.”

A police officer fires off rubber bullets at residents of Soshanguve Block KK during a service delivery protest, they demand to have proper electricity and housing and vowed to continue their protest untill their needs are met, 17 May 2017, Soshanguve, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

He added that the City of Tshwane failed them and that they wanted to know how DA councillors operated. Concerned grandparent Julia Mokate said a police officer who fired tear gas at her house told them he was sorry.

“What he did was wrong. We have a seven-month-old child in the house. How is the child suppose to breathe?” Mokate asked.

It was unacceptable, added Mokate, because her family was not part of the protest. ANC councillor Nomsa Ndlovu claimed that the TMPD officers fired randomly in the area of the protest.

“I tried my level best to communicate with the TMPD, but they didn’t listen,” said Ndlovu.

Julia Mokate (62) and her grandchild stand outside their shack after police fired tear gas near their home during a service delivery protest, protestors demanded to have proper electricity and housing and vowed to continue their protest untill their needs are met, 17 May 2017, Soshanguve, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

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