Police on high alert in Tembisa
The City has also deployed a large convoy of metro police’s public protection unit who are patrolling the township.
Police are still monitoring and patrolling the streets of Tembisa following the riots on Monday morning.
The riots, which also flared up in other parts of Gauteng, have left many residents using public transport stranded as main roads were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres.
A number of foreign-owned shops were looted and set alight by the unruly mob. Some shops at Oakmore Train Station were set alight after being broken into.
The City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson, William Ntladi, said things are calm now, but their unit had a busy schedule because of the unrest.
“Emergency services have been busy. We received a call in the morning about the shops being burnt and immediately responded to the scene for intervention. Crews from Tembisa Fire Station were assisted by firefighters from Olifantsfontein Fire Station to put out the fire, but the flames have already caused intense structural damage. Part of the roof had already collapsed and walls cracked, posing a high risk to the entire crew and members of the public,” said Ntladi.
He said DEMS is on high alert to render all necessary interventions in accordance to their expertise.
The City has also deployed a large convoy of metro police’s public protection unit who are patrolling the township.
Different political parties and religious groups have since come out strong against these riots and attacks on foreign nationals.
