Tensions flare over Location Road
"The mayor and the MMC for Human Settlements need to come and address the community as a matter of urgency."
The ever-expanding informal settlement along Location Road has been the cause of a tension-filled week in Brakpan.
Following events the previous week which saw residents from the settlement take to the streets in protest, a meeting was held in Brenthurst last Thursday evening for residents to raise their concerns.
Read: Protest erupts after foiled land grab
These concerns include an increase in crime in the area and loss or damage of property.
The meeting was attended by approximately 250 residents, the majority of whom live in Brenthurst – the suburb bordering the settlement.
While no concrete solution was found, it was suggested that residents boycott the Ekurhuleni Metro by not paying rates and taxes.
The municipality has repeatedly come under fire for failing to remove the illegal occupiers from the land.
Council seemed to take action on Friday when the EMPD arrived at the settlement in the morning to demolish newly erected shacks, but members were forced to withdraw from the area when the situation turned violent.
Another protest erupted and Location Road was blocked with burning debris and turned into a no-go zone.
The area was closely monitored by law enforcement over the next few days and the EMPD returned to demolish new structures during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
“Over the past few days the land had been illegally invaded at a tremendous rate and concerned community members reported the invasions to the EMPD non-stop,” said DA ward councillor for the area, Brandon Pretorius.
“The structures that were removed by the EMPD during the by-law operation were all unoccupied structures that were erected illegally.
“We have engaged with the mayor and the MMC for Human Settlements and they need to come and address the community as a matter of urgency.
“The planned housing development is also a riddle.
“The community wants clarity with regards to the approved housing development and the MMC must come and provide that clarity.”
Tuesday morning also saw a petrol-bombing incident at a house in Pienaar Street, Brenthurst, which set social media abuzz with some accusing the informal settlement residents of retaliation.
It can, however, not be confirmed that this incident is in any way linked to the current state of affairs.
The elderly owner of the house told the Herald he did not hear the bomb hit his house, but discovered the damage it caused when he awakened.
A shade port in the driveway went up in flames and the resident found a bottle containing petrol and stones in his garden.
Read: Petrolbom na huis in Brenthurst geslinger
Further protests took place along Location Road that morning with reports of stones and other objects being thrown at cars.
Until a resolution is found, Pretorius has urged residents to keep reporting land invasion activity to the EMPD.
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