Birch Acres and Tembisa are burning this morning: three shot
There are also reports of rubber bullets being fired to disperse the crowd
WHAT should have been a peaceful service delivery protest in Birch Acres today, has turned ugly as residents of Sophiatown, an informal settlement in Tembisa next to the suburb, have barricaded roads.
According to reports three people were taken to hospital after being wounded by the Gauteng Public Order Policing Unit.
“Birch Acres is a no go area this morning, the whole area has been barricaded and one cannot leave or enter the place,” said metro police spokesman, Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago.
Members of the police and metro police officers are at the scene. There are also reports of rubber bullets being fired to disperse the crowd.
Kgasago said the protesters from Sophiatown, next to Birch Acres started burning tyres and placing rocks on the roads at around 3am.
The surrounding Andrew Mapheto and Isimuku streets have been closed, Kgasago said.
Express yesterday reported that the peaceful protest had been organised by Birch Acres Residents Committee and had been given the go ahead by the metro.
According to Ronald Mashaba, spokesman for the committee, all the residents of Birch Acres ext 23 to 44, as well as residents of Sophiatown, a squatter camp in Tembisa situated just opposite Birch Acres Mall, were expected to join the protest march against the lack of service delivery in the area, including problems with local schools, clinics and police station.
More details will follow later.
