Rubber bullets fired at invaders
Yet another piece of land illegally occupied by residents of Mamelodi.
Rubber bullets were fired on Tuesday to foil the illegal invasion of an open piece of municipal land in the far east of Mamelodi.
This happened as the metro police were keeping watch to prevent the erection of more shacks in the area.
An eye witness said would-be land invaders were throwing stones at the metro police, who retaliated by firing rubber bullets. A number of people suffered injuries.
The invaders, some of whom were members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said they found the empty piece of land on Saturday and began putting up shacks.
EFF member Sello Makoti said: “After erecting the shacks, the Tshwane metro police came from nowhere and started shooting rubber bullets at us and they demolished our shacks without any warning.”
“Even innocent people coming back from work were shot at, at the railway station,” he said.
On Tuesday morning, the metro police were back in position at the spot to prevent another invasion. Around 11:00, rowdy residents were gathering, taunting the metro police and throwing stones.
The metro police opened fire with rubber bullets, driving the would-be invaders to the other side of the railway. They remained in the area until late afternoon.
Makoti told reporters: “This is a free country and the land belongs to God, not to the Tshwane metro. We are not going to give in just like that. We have officially declared war with the metro. We tried to have talks with them but they ignored us and shot rubber bullets at us,” he said.
“We are not occupying the land illegally, but we are supporting EFF policy of land distribution without compensation. We have every right to stay on the land,” he said.
One of the invaders, Sam Mabena, said: “I am tired of being homeless when there is free land were no one is staying. We will go through each and every channel to obtain free land for ourselves.”
The metro police said it would comment later.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
Also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
