A COUNCILLOR is still in shock following lawlessness that erupted during a housing development meeting intended to discuss the establishment of a housing committee for Ward 57.
The meeting was held on November 4 at the Regents Park Primary School in South Road, South Hills at 9am.
Ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame said tempers flared during the meeting which was meant to address the interests of residents who had interests on the site.
She said a few representatives from various parties including the MMC for housing came to the meeting.
According to the councillor, this did not sit well with some of the people attending the meeting and she said the meeting was disrupted because the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) wants to be 100 per cent involved in the project.
“A fight broke out between Sanco and IFP including ANC members. They were chasing each other down South Road with bricks that were lying on the road,” said Chame.
She said a resident described it as a riot happening. The school’s gate was closed and she was held hostage.
“Residents called SAPS and JMPD for assistance. Patrollers from the area also came out to assist. This behaviour is unacceptable. These meetings are held to find solutions.
“I really hope that we will find an amicable solution and a way forward. Disruptions like these are never healthy for the community.”
Xolile Nyhila, a member of Sanco said the allegations posed by the ward councillor were misleading. He said although he was not at the meeting on Saturday, a report from Sanco members was that tensions flared between IFP members who had come to the meeting with the housing MMC and Sanco members.
He said a local man was severely beaten in the face by IFP members and that a case was opened against the IFP members.
The COURIER is in the process of contacting the victim.
Sanco chairperson Godfrey Mrobongwana was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
The COURIER is also awaiting a statement from the police.
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