As recently as a month ago a Record journalist had to take cover while covering the unrest in Leratong Village and Tshepisong as police fired rubber bullets indiscriminately.
The number of incidents in which Gauteng police use rubber bullets to control protesting crowds is on the increase, despite a two-year Standing Order banning its use still being in effect.
These bullets were used to disperse protestors in at least six incidents since August this year, including in Tshepisong, Leratong Village, Bekkersdal, Diepsloot and the most recent incident outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
This despite the confirmation by Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko that the Standing Order banning the use of rubber bullets is still in effect.
Police fails to explain what exceptional circumstances motivated and justified the use of rubber bullets across the province and why this is on the increase.
The DA has submitted questions to the MEC about the number of incidents in which rubber bullets were used since January 2012. They also asked that the MEC explains the justification for firing rubber bullets.
Doctors have urged authorities to ban using rubber bullets, describing their use as unsafe and warning that authorities should never use them to control riots.
With the increase in service delivery protests, residents in Gauteng face the same fate as Andries Tatane and others who have died or sustained serious injuries as a result of police members firing rubber bullets.
