[Part 1] Call of Duty: Krugersdorp’s cops versus Munsieville mob
An eye-witness account of the start of Red Monday and Krugersdorp's war against drugs.
It was like witnessing an excited crowd at a Metallica concert. So loud that it feels as if your heart is beating outside your chest. But this crowd was neither excited nor thrilled to be here.
Every single person in the crowd knows someone who has battled with drug addiction or died from an overdose. They also know of their neighbour whose child was forced into prostitution at the age of 13.
Photo: Bianca Pindral.
“Do you know how it feels to hear that two underage girls in your class were raped by a drug dealer?”, a Munsieville protester yelled at the police who were blocking their way into town.
“We have no business with you [the police]. We want to burn down the drug houses because you have failed us.”
Read more: #KrugersdorpWarOnDrugs the chaos in photos and videos
On Monday, 22 January, Munsieville residents decided to take matters into their own hands. Their message was loud and clear: the police have failed them and their illicit relationship with the drug lords of Krugersdorp needed to be eradicated. Onward they marched, ignoring the police’s warnings. Minutes later the ‘leaders’ of the crowd started to form a human chain to try and keep the crowd from provoking the police. A man broke through the chain and walked up to a policeman with a whip – slapping it against the ground. The policeman, without flinching, reached into his pocket, took out a cigarette and calmly lit it while keeping an eye on the whip-wielding man.
Photo: Bianca Pindral.
On another part of Robert Broom Drive, Major General Anna Mateisi, station commander for the Krugersdorp Police, tried to negotiate with the Munsieville community leaders, but to no avail.
It was 100 against 1 000. The crowd started to move and reached the intersection of Van Riebeeck Road and Robert Broom Drive, where police vehicles were parked. Everything was calm but it was clear that a storm was brewing.
Read here: #KrugersdorpWarOnDrugs: Avoid these areas
And then a stun grenade was discharged. The crowd scattered in a hundred directions. Those who were in front grabbed massive rocks and threw them at the police, who had by this time fired about 20 rounds of rubber bullets each.
The burning air sticks to their cheeks as the tear gas canisters explode on the road. A gogo, whose eyes were burning, was grabbed by a policeman and dragged out of the chaos. He loaded her into an ambulance and ran back to fight off those resisting.
Photo: Bianca Pindral.
The roar of a riot police van can be heard approaching. It stopped at the intersection, loaded up some exhausted, but still fighting, police officers and raced into the township.
The roaring stopped the moment the water cannon van moved into position. All hell was about to break loose.
Read more: Geweld in Krugersdorp die gevolg van jarelange swak polisiëring
Flocking around it were officers chasing the crowd. Police vehicles from every single station on the West Rand stood lined up on the road. The Flying Squad, K9 Unit and other units were ready for action.
Photo: Bianca Pindral.
A few ambulances waited for the injured while firefighters were extinguishing everything that was on fire and traffic police kept motorists from the scene. It was a sight to see – every law enforcement officer working to keep the angry protesters out of town.
The smell of burning tyres and tear gas lingered in the air as police officers returned to their vehicles.
The crowd was held at bay and the police were adamant – “They will not go into town” – but for how long?
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