Residents of Extension 9 took to the streets to protest against the land evictions of Thursday, 16 July. The people barricaded Mandela Street with rocks, domestic waste and a burning tyre.
According to Tebogo Mngomezulu, the community spokesperson, security guards from MEG security approached the informal settlers near the ZCC church in Ward 4 last Monday (13 July). They told the squatters that they were not allowed to build their shacks on those grounds. When their warnings were ignored, the security guards allegedly started demolishing their shacks.
The police went to the scene and reportedly urged the settlers not to build any more shacks.
The informal settlers alleged that they had arranged a meeting with the ward councillor, Johan Zerwick and the head of the housing department on Wednesday, 15 July, to resolve the issues around stands. But Tebogo and Kabelo ‘Motlholo’ Tsamai, the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Ward 4 chairperson and community informal settlement committee chairperson, allege that the representatives didn’t come.
The settlers decided to carry on building their homes as there was no resolution.
According to Zerwick, the community members did not make arrangements but rather demanded a meeting. “They tried to blackmail us by telling the police they would close the N12 if we did not come,” he said.
He says community members warned him that his safety would be at risk if he went to the meeting. They advised him rather to wait until the situation had calmed down.
“A councillor has no authority in housing or with the police or MEG. That is why I asked the housing department and the municipal manager to handle the case. No councillor can give or even promise people stands,” said Zerwick.
Wandi Mokgothu, one of the settlers, says MEG security guards started demolishing his shack around 01:00 on Thursday morning. He alleges that he was sleeping inside at the time. He also claims that the security guards had hit him with a weapon like a sjambok. When he came back, he says his sheets of corrugated iron, bed, blankets, clothing and phone had been burnt. He later opened a case of malicious damage to property.
“I’m not okay. I didn’t expect them (MEG security) to come. I was content and relieved that I had finally got my own place in the area I wanted. I was thrilled,” he said.
William Maphosa, the municipal spokesperson, confirmed that the shacks were demolished that Thursday morning. “According to the information at our disposal, MEG arrived at the scene in the early hours of the morning when it was still dark. When they arrived, only one person fled when he saw the vehicles approaching,” said Maphosa.
According to Maphosa’s information, no people were on-site at the time of the operation and no shots were fired. “We do not have any information that anyone was shot during the operation,” he said.
Maphosa encourages citizens to exercise their right to lay charges against people if they believe their rights were infringed.
On the day of the protest, police officers were present and shots were allegedly fired.
A 66-year-old woman was taken to hospital after allegedly being shot in the forehead the same morning.
Rachel Martins (66) from Ward 4 says she, Diana Mokgothu (53) and another fellow community member were looking for wood at around 10:00. They were walking from Sarafina, near where the protest took place. They tried to stay as far as possible from the unrest. As the women were walking down a footpath, several police vehicles drove past. “I told the other ladies to remain calm and not run away, as the police would think we were part of the unrest,” said Rachel.
The women continued walking when Rachel heard a vehicle stop behind them. “As I turned around, I was hit on the forehead. I fell to the ground and started bleeding.”
With the blood dripping down her face, it took a while for her to open her eyes. Rachel was taken to Potchefstroom Hospital, where she received stitches. She was admitted for further observation and discharged on Saturday. She opened a case on Tuesday morning, 21 July. Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Funani, the police spokesperson, confirms that a case of attempted murder was opened and was transferred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for further investigation.
