Watch: Protesters block road with rubble, burn two buildings in Khayelitsha
A video posted to Twitter on Thursday 9 July, shows a road blocked with burning rubble and tyres and smoke billowing high up in the air. In the distance, a building can be seen on fire. This, after protesters, had at the scene. According to the video posted by Yusuf Abramjee, “a municipal building was set on fire during protests in Monwabisi near Khayelitsha, Cape Town”.
According to Western Cape police, however, there is more to the story.
WATCH: PROTESTERS BLOCK ROAD, BURN TYRES IN KHAYELITSHA
In the video, one can see what appears to be a thick line of rubble strewn across a road. Parts of the rubble appear to be burning. As a result, smoke is billowing upwards. In the distance, a building can be seen burning.
On the other side of the blocked road, police vans and police members wearing masks can be seen approaching the rubble, trying to put some of the isolated fires out. The video ends there.
PROTEST FOR ‘TOILET SERVICES’
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape, a protest started in the early hours of Thursday morning resulting in the closure of Baden Powell Road between Swartklip and The N2.
“According to reports residents of Monwabisi Park informal settlement, Khayelitsha [is] allegedly complaining about the toilet services and they blocked Baden Powell Road with rubble and burning tyres,” said SAPS Western Cape spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk.
Baden Powell road is still closed from Japhta Masemola and Swartklip Road.
“The traffic is diverted. The protesters have [gone] over the road and force[d] their way into Monwabisi resort and burn down two buildings,” added Van Wyk.
Three suspects, comprised of two males and one female aged between 36 and 41, have been arrested on charges of public violence. They are due to appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court once charged.
According to Van Wyk, Public Order Policing (POPS) members are on the scene. There are currently no protesters. According to police, protesters were dispersed by POPS members.
SANITATION VITAL FOR BATTLE AGAINST COVID-19
In a GroundUp article released earlier this year, it was stated that hundreds of families were sharing three water taps in Madiba Square, Khayelitsha in Cape Town.
This, while South African citizens were and still are, urged to wash their hands to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19.
Community leader Sibongile Nyalela said: “We used to depend on eight water taps for water to wash, drink and cook, but now only three are producing water”. He said families were battling to get water to wash their hands due to other taps being broken.
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