Watch: Orlando residents protest at the police station

Residents took their protest action to the door steps of the Orlando Police Station Tuesday night. They were demanding the immediate release of their nine counterparts who were arrested on charges of public violence.

It all started when residents took to the streets to protest against the installation of split metering boxes. A vehicle belonging to the Eskom contractor was destroyed which led to the arrest on nine people.

Later, a group of residents stormed the police station demanding that their counterparts be released or they all be arrested.

Police officials agreed to negotiate with leaders of the Orlando Task Team (OTT) behind closed doors.

While negotiations were in progress, residents were busy singing struggle songs at the foyer of the police station.

They were chanting slogans denouncing Eskom, councillors and the police as well. The whole thing was turned to a night vigil which went on until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Seth Mazibuko from the OTT which was negotiating with the police confirmed that the arrested were not released.

“Negotiations went on until 1:45am. The police told us to get a lawyer which was impossible at that time of the morning,” said Mazibuko.

He said the station commander brigadier Welcome Zangwa promised to look in to the demands they made as residents.

He was concerned about the fact that some of the arrested people will miss their matric exams which they were supposed to write yesterday.

@MzwaJourno