Calm after a volatile uproar in Rosettenville
They all claimed they were being ambushed by criminals.
CALM has been restored after protesters burned tyres outside a shopping complex in the South of Johannesburg, forcing it to close, last Saturday.
The Rosettenville Junction shopping complex was at the bad end of a protest on February 3 when an army of protesters took to the streets to barricade its entrances with burning tyres.
Read: GALLERY: War zone in Rosettenville
The complex, which was forced to close its doors, only reopened the following Monday afternoon around 1pm after a morning meeting was held between the property owners, community representatives and the police.
The meeting, which took place at Johannesburg Central Police Station, resulted in a temporary agreement between protesters, law enforcement and the Rosettenville Junction managers.
Another meeting was scheduled for Thursday, February 8, at the Booysens Police Station boardroom.
Protest and community leader Simphiwe Hlafa said a few grievances were tabled at the meeting.
Read: Rosettenville complex closed after protests
He said the security of shoppers, the damaged roof and community issues were among the concerns.
Hlafa said the consensus was that the issues would be looked into by management.
He stated that the property management needed to be held accountable for the safety of the residents.
Residents expressed their fears to the COURIER during the volatile protest.
They all claimed they were being ambushed by criminals. They said the centre was a crime hot spot and that bank branches that had been there left because of the rise in crime.
Col Lloyd from the police negotiated a peaceful resolution on Saturday morning by stating that no acts of crime must be committed during deliberations.
Safety, jobs and community engagement were some of the issues raised by community members. Ward 56 councillor Michael Crichton said many of those concerns would addressed. Crichton had rushed to the scene alongside ANC ward councillor Mongameli Mnyameni to address the crowd.
Local CPFs and police were also on the scene and on high alert on Saturday.
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