Police tear gas canister hits crèche in Zandspruit, children evacuated
Residents are continuing a protest against unsafe illegal electricity connections that are claiming children’s lives.
The Zandspruit residents are up in arms again over the alleged heavy-handedness of police in dealing with a protest in the area.
They have blocked roads again this morning on Tuesday, following a protest that had started the day before.
Major routes such as Beyers Naudé Drive, Johan, Peter, Pierre and Marina Roads remain closed due to the chaos and hostility in the area, Roodepoort Northisider reports.
The protest action started yesterday, Monday, 15 October, as residents demonstrated against illegal connections after the electrocution of two children in the area.
Zandspruit is a hectic war zone right now. @SAPoliceService in full bullet proof gear with rubber bullet guns 🆘
— Kananelo (@kaysexwale) October 16, 2018
Johannesburg Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar confirmed that Beyers Naude Drive was blocked with rocks and burning tyres, disrupting traffic.
The Citizen’s photographer on the scene reports that police fired a tear gas canister into a crèche in the township.
The children were evacuated on to the street.
Residents have been protesting over the deaths of two or even three children over the past month, due to the many illegal electricity connections in the area.
Ward 114 councillor Victor Mafinya has confirmed the problem to the media.
“On Saturday, 13 October, we buried an 11-year-old child who had been electrocuted. Later that day, another child, aged 6, was also killed by an illegal connection,” he said, attributing the protest to the electricity issue in Zandspruit.
Joburg city councillor Nico de Jager said he was facilitating meetings to attempt to resolve the dispute.
I am faciliting a meeting between Zandspruit residents, @CityPowerJhb and Eskom this morning in the hope of finding a solution to dangerous illegal connections in the area. Zandspruit is a Eskom area of supply. @CityofJoburgZA @DA_JHB
— Nico De Jager (@NicoDeJager64) October 16, 2018
Honeydew Police, Public Order Police and Johannesburg Metro Police are at the scene.
Honeydew spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan, said no arrests have been made but the area is very busy.
Read original story on roodepoortnorthsider.co.za
