WATCH: Protesters storm police station and civic centre in protest over service delivery

Fed-up residents have today (November 14) stormed the Reiger Park SAPS and the Boksburg Civic Centre to express their anger over what they call low level of service delivery from the police and Ward 34 Clr Edith Klassen.

The series of pre-planned activities started early this morning when the disgruntled protesters blocked off several roads around the community with burning tyres, rocks and other objects.

They then marched from the township to the Boksburg Civic Centre to hand over a memorandum of grievances to Klassen.
They accused her of completely snubbing the community at large, including her team of ward committee members, while giving preferences to her own political party and unofficial community groupings.

The residents also accused the councillor of failing to consult or update residents on community projects and other developments, of displaying lack of interests in working with the elected ward committee members, of denying residents access to use council facilities to hold public meetings, and of putting the interest of her political party first.

Klassen confirmed receiving the residents complaint and said she will endeavour to respond to all the allegations against her at least within seven days. She also pointed out that her car came under attack after protesters pelted it with stones as she was driving to the township.
The metro has also been approached for comment, and its response will be added when received.

‘Poor’ police service leads to protest
The Reiger Park police management has been slammed for an alleged failure to protect the community and its energy infrastructure against a gang of gunmen who have reportedly been terrorising the community.

Following the handover of the memorandum at the civic centre, the angry protesters marched back to the township and proceeded to the police station where they demanded that the ‘useless’ police station facility be closed down until a complete overhaul of the staff has been conducted.
According to one of the protesting residents, Melissa Crawford, the community is unhappy about ‘poor’ police service.

They accused the police officers of incompetence in fulfilling their mandates, saying they are at some points found sleeping on the job and sometimes closing the police station during the night.

“We had a number of cable thefts and deadly shooting by a gang of people. When we asked the police to assist us they told us that they are also scared because the suspects are heavily armed.
“Every time when we approach them (the police) for help, they give us excuses. What’s the point of having a police station that can’t protect the community?” said Crawford.
The residents also complained that victims were not being kept up to date with developments in the cases they have reported.

The station management, with a representative of the provincial SAPS, reportedly tried to engage the protesters at the police station, but the crowd remained rowdy. Protestors demanded a complete overhaul of the staff, including management.
The crowd remained at the police station for most part of the afternoon, while their community leaders were in closed meeting with police leadership.

According to Crawford, the crowd dispersed after community leaders reached an agreement with the SAPS to allow management time to look at their grievances and to arrange a meeting with the community.

Officials from the top SAPS management structures are expected to attend the meeting.
“We were told that the meeting to be attended by the provincial commissioner of police Lieutenant General Elias Mawela will be held on Wednesday night. We we look forward to be addressed by him.”

The Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson Costable Johannes Msimanga confirmed the protest, but referred this publication to the provincial SAPS for comment.
“Law enforcement agencies, including members of the SAPS and EMPD’s Public Order Policing are monitoring the situation. So far there is no reported violent incident,” said Msimanga.
The police comment will be added once it’s been received from the provincial spokesperson.

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