TMPD ‘contains’ Ga-Rankuwa service delivery unrest
Protesters burned down two foreigner-owned spaza shops on Wednesday.
The metro police (TMPD) say they are on top of the ongoing Ga-Rankuwa protests in Zone 15 and the situation is contained.
Protests erupted in the area earlier this week due to residents’ growing frustration over a lack of service delivery.
According to TMPD spokesperson, Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, angry residents burned down two spaza shops believed to be owned by foreign nationals on Valentine’s Day.
“We are aware of the protests in Zone 15 that started earlier this week. It began when the community blocked Molefe Makinta highway and on the morning of February 14, we learnt that two foreigner-owned spaza shops had been burned down,” Mahamba said.
“We are containing the situation, currently as we are speaking, the TMPD is on-site as well as SAPS, and we will be there until the situation is normalised. It’s not only Ga-Rankuwa, even in the past week, we’ve been dealing with the Bronkhorstspruit issue,” he said.
“Similar situation, riots and vandalism, the community is complaining about service delivery regarding water and electricity but the city restored water in the Ekangala, Bronkhorstspruit and that situation has normalised. We are now in Ga-Rankuwa ensuring that unrest is contained there as well.”
Mahamba said boots would be on the ground until the situation has stabilised.
On Tuesday, two people were arrested for public violence in Ekangala and one for possession of dagga.
Members of the public are urged to refrain from participating in criminal activity.
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