Cleaning groups clash in CBD
Tensions flared between two groups taking part in an operation to clean up Pretoria.
Clashes erupted at Church square in Pretoria on Monday between two groups involved in an operation to clean up the city.
Temporary workers apparently assaulted cleaners in the employ of the city improvement district (CID) who are working with the police, the CPF and the metro police.
A number of people are said to have been taken to hospital afterwards.
CID operations manager Templeton Ngonyama said: “In the past two weeks we have been cleaning the city but had to stop because we were interrupted by a group which is unknown to us.”
According to an onlooker, the protesting group grabbed the brooms of the permanent workers and violence broke out.
Thabiso Ngcobo, who is also a cleaner for the CID, said some of his colleagues were hospitalised as a result of the assaults.
“They have beaten us and as far as I know, some of us have been hospitalised,” Ngcobo said.
Clerence Debeila, a representative of the temporary workers, said they wanted permanent employment.
He urged his group to remain calm.
“Let us be disciplined comrades. Lack of discipline is going to work against us. Let us not give police a reason to harass us,” Debeila said.
Police maintained a strong presence to prevent more violence.
Central police spokesperson Captain Augustinah Selepe could not be reached.
Debeila said his group would meet the Tshwane metro on Friday.
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