L & J Informal Settlement residents arrested for public violence

A resident of L & J Informal Settlement is worried that he could become paralysed because of a bullet in his leg after he was shot by the police at the settlement on July 22.

Moses Malaka (38) was shot in his right leg when law enforcers were forcefully eradicating shacks and dispersing shack dwellers while extending stands on privately-owned land in Olifantsfontein.

Malaka, who is living with a bullet inside his leg, told The Tembisan he was sitting with his friends in the squatter camp when he was shot.

“I went to Tembisa Hospital the following day for help and I was checked and given some pills, which I think are only for pain relief. I was told to come back with R45 for the hospital fees and to be attended to by a doctor. I am worried because I don’t have the required money and I was told I won’t be attended to without paying the set amount,” said Malaka.

When asked why he did not rush to hospital the same day of the incident, Malaka said he was worried that he could find himself detained.

“Several people were arrested on that day and others got detained in hospital during being treated for their injuries. I couldn’t risk going to hospital that day. I am not happy with how the police just opened fire on us, I was only sitting around the squatter camp,” added Malaka.

Another victim, Jone Alberto Machiquiri (32), said there is a possibility that his right eye might be permanently damaged after he was shot with a rubber bullet.

“I was rushed to hospital after the incident and I was attended to but I was only given eye drops without being seen by a doctor. They prescribed medication for me and gave me a note to come back for a next appointment after three weeks. Since then I cannot see through or open the affected eye,” explained Machiquiri.

Meanwhile, a representative from Ekurhuleni Concerned Resident Association (ECRA), Somsy Matso, said he was arrested for public violence and damage of infrastructure and was detained at Olifantsfontein SAPS on the same day.

“I was on my way to attend a public meeting on the morning of the incident at L & J Informal Settlement when I found police vans parked on the main road next to the squatter camp. When I was about to approach the area, I saw residents standing and looking at the police removing the dwellers’ shacks. Suddenly others members of the EMPD and SAPS also arrived and started firing shots at the residents. I was restricted to enter the area by the police. People ran for their lives and their shacks were all demolished,” added Matso.

Matso said two men died after that attack.

“As an association, we are not happy with how the police handled the situation of L & J Informal Settlement because many people were left seriously injured. People are scared to lay charges against the police because of the corruption and crime in this country,” added Matso.

Matso said the residents were only re-blocking the area that they’ve been living in for years.

EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said after eight weeks of battling with law enforcers, 268 residents of L&J Informal Settlement were arrested for public violence on July 26, following the blockading of the M57 road, the torching of three motor vehicles and pelting of passing vehicles with stones.

“The protesters have been creating havoc by barricading main roads in the area, including the R21 freeway, and with violent actions towards motorists. The quelling of the violent protests has been due to the efforts of both the EMPD, SAPS and Gauteng Traffic members. Among the arrestees were those suspected of being undocumented,” said Kgasago.

Kgasago added the arrestees were all detained at Kempton Park SAPS on charges of public violence and the suspected undocumented people were attended to by Home Affairs officials to verify their status.

“The arrested suspects were expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. The police will continue the monitoring of the volatile area,” said Kgasago.

Tembisa Hospital CEO Lekopane Mogaladi said they will never deny people from getting treatment because they are a public hospital.

“Usually if a patient does not have money, we create an account and unfortunately we get isolated incidents where people allege they’ve been denied treatment or services because they did not have money. People who do not have money for the hospital fees are urged to consult with the hospital quality assurance or phone us. We will intervene. We urge people who are able to pay the fees, to pay. With the case of these two guys, we urge them to phone us or come to the hospital. We will serve them as soon as they come,” added Mogaladi.