‘Gatvol’ Hermanus residents protest over service delivery

Demonstrations broke out earlier this year after negotiations between residents and government over housing broke down.

Angry community members of Zwelihle in Hermanus in the Western Cape set the local police station alight today. Picture: Facebook

Protests broke out on Friday morning in Zwelihle, Hermanus, in the Western Cape, with residents complaining over service delivery and housing.

https://twitter.com/ElsjeNeethling/status/1070940273298030592

In July, violent protests broke out in the area after negotiations over housing between the government and residents broke down.

The Zwelihle Renewal Committee had been formed to deal with housing problems in the area. After negotiations, the government agreed to re-examine housing lists and provide plots for residents of the township to build homes. However, there was a breakdown in negotiations, leading to violent protests.

The protests intensified when members of the organisation started demanding that their leader, Gcobani Ndzongana, should be released from prison after he was arrested and charged with incitement and malicious damage to property alongside 49 other protesters.

The protests led to Police Minister Bheki Cele calling an emergency meeting in July, which took place behind a sports stadium in the Western Cape township.

#ZwelihleShutDown #HermanusShutdown – Residents from Zwelihle informal settlement in Hermanus in the Western Cape are staging a shutdown today. They're unhappy with service delivery and housing. Reporter @Artii_M is there with the latest and speaks to a resident. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/IFAn5j1Zr4

— eNCA (@eNCA) December 7, 2018

The official South African Police Service Twitter account updated on Friday that the R43 road in the area at the corner of Malva Street was where the protesters gathered.

“[The] situation [is] peaceful and [is being] monitored by [the] POP unit, Hermanus SAPS and other law enforcement agencies. Traffic [has been] diverted down Swartdam and Schulphoek Roads via Mount Pleasant.”

#sapsWC Service delivery #ProtestAction Hermanus. R43 closed. Group gathering on R43 at c/o R43 and Malva Str. Situation peaceful and monitored by POP Unit, Hermanus #SAPS and other Law Enforcement agencies. Traffic diverted down Swartdam & Schulphoek Roads via Mount Pleasant. ME pic.twitter.com/6KMVSCJr4l

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 7, 2018