Six people were arrested and charged with malicious damage to property as the violent protests intensified in the Zandspruit Informal Settlement.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela said they will continue to monitor the area until all the protestors dispersed.
One of the residents explained that the protest was hijacked by people who just wanted to cause disruption.
Several people were also injured this afternoon during the protest action.
ER24 paramedics were first called to the Beyers Naude and Peter Road intersection where four men had been reportedly injured. On arrival, they found three men who had sustained minor injuries due to being struck by thrown objects, said Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesperson.
Paramedics treated the patients and transported them to Flora Clinic for further treatment. Paramedics later responded to a second incident were a child and mother had both sustained mild smoke inhalation problems, apparently from the burning tyres nearby.
Paramedics treated both patients before they were transported to Rahima Moosa Hospital for further treatment, said Meiring.
Donation Ngobeni, one of the residents, said residents have not had electricity since 14 March. “They cut off our electricity because of illegal connections.
We agreed last night in a meeting that we will form a steering committee and protest peacefully,” he said.Residents said Eskom had apparently cut off the electricity in Honeydew plot 52 due to the ongoing illegal connections in Zandspruit informal settlement.
Details: Gauteng Provincial Police, 079 522 4245.
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