“There is no future for the youth here”
By Ihsaan Haffejee9 May 2017
Residents from Eldorado Park and Freedom Park
protested over the lack of housing and jobs on Monday. The protest
turned violent; residents and police had running battles along the
Golden Highway which runs through both suburbs.
Shaun Jacobs a young protester explained what set off
the protests: “There’s no development in this area. There is no future
for the youth here. Why do you think so many people from here get
involved in selling drugs and stealing? It’s because there are no
opportunities.”
Earlier residents blockaded the Golden Highway as well
as the N12 and N1 highways which led to traffic congestion for people
leaving the southern suburbs on their way to work. Police managed to
unblock the highways but the Golden Highway remained shut to traffic
well into the late afternoon. In the morning commuters were seen making
u-turns and heading home as all exits out of the suburbs were blocked.
Protesters from the two suburbs joined forces as they
attempted to push police back. They were armed themselves with stones
and petrol bombs. Police retaliated by firing rubber bullets and teargas
into the crowd. A few tear gas canisters landed in houses causing panic
among the people living in them. Members of the South African Police
Service (SAPS) flying squad also entered the fray when reports of the
looting of a nearby Shoprite surfaced. The SAPS flying squad members
charged the crowd armed with live ammunition, with a few rounds being
fired into the air. A commanding officer withdrew the flying squad
members and opted instead to utilise members of the Public Order Police
who are trained for crowd control.
Elija Williams said that the pleas of the communities
were ignored by government. He accused politicians of only visiting the
area when votes are needed to win elections. “My grandmother died living
in a shack. I’m most probably going to die living in a shack. I don’t
want my child to also have to live their entire life in a shack with no
electricity,” said Williams.
Some schools in the area had to close and learners were
sent home due to the escalating violence. Some learners cried on the
side of the road crying after inhaling teargas fired by the police.
Residents vowed to continue to protest until Gauteng
Human Settlement MEC Paul Mashatile came to the area to listen to their
grievances. Protesters vented their frustrations at both local and
national government with some calling for the resignation of
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba while other could be heard chanting
“Zuma must fall”. Later in the afternoon Gauteng MEC for Community
Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane visited the area calling for calm to be
restored. She confirmed that the Shoprite, Spar and BP garage were
looted and that twelve people were arrested.
Published originally on GroundUp .
© 2017 GroundUp.
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