Riots on the Golden Highway at Vanderbijlpark

VANDERBIJLPARK. – Protesters have been burning tires since 08:00 this morning (16-11-2017) and rolled rocks onto the Golden Highway near Vanderbijlpark. Some motorists’ vehicles were hit by rioters’ stones.
The Golden Highway is currently closed off from the robot (the so-called Crossing of Death), towards Johannesburg, and motorists are advised not to try to get on the road elsewhere.
According to Mr. Peter Steyn of Econoflex, he and other employees are currently trapped in the Turbo Industrial Park area on the corner of Rautenbach Street and the Golden Highway. The rioters are still in the road and burn tires near the premises’ gateway, so employees can not leave the premise in their vehicles.
The reason for the demonstration is apparently that Bophelong and adjacent townships did not have electricity for the the last 3 or 4 days. The protesters (currently it’s a group of between 70 and 100) include children from as young as about six years to middle-aged people.
There is currently a major police presence. Motorists are requested to avoid the area.

Photos: Peter Steyn