Westbury protest boils over after bus station set alight

Community members have been urging Bheki Cele to visit the area, and vowed to continue protesting until he addresses them.

What remains of a torched Rea Vaya bus station. Image: Twitter/@Slindelo_M

Tension in the Westbury community reached boiling point on Monday night, after a Rea Vaya bus station was torched and destroyed, reports IOL.

The Ministry of Police issued a statement that General Cele will meet the community at 11:30am at the Westbury Recreation Centre today.

ALSO READ: PICS: Cele listens to violence-torn Westbury, meeting set down

What remains of a Rea Vaya bus station in Westbury.
Image: Twitter/@Slindelo_M

Image: Twitter/@TrafficSA

Residents highlighted various issues which they said government had ignored, including a drug turf war which has seen at least 40 people killed this year, according to some residents.

Residents in Westbury block roads into the area and running battles with police throwing stones and petrol bombs following the killing of a woman last week in an alleged gang related incident, 1 October 2018. The community are demanding a meeting with Bheki Cele. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark

Community members also accused police in the area of colluding with drug dealers and accepting bribes and said the ANC government had abandoned coloured communities.

As a result, the community has been protesting since last Friday. Rubber bullets and teargas were used by police on Monday to disperse angry crowds.