Pretoria - At least 34 people have been arrested for public violence as service delivery protests continue in Thembelihle near Lenasia, police said on Friday.
Police said the one person injured in a previous shooting on Wednesday in the area died in hospital overnight. He was allegedly shot by a resident who opened fire on protesters. A 47-year-old man is set to appear in court on a charge of murder.
The community has over the last few days gone on a rampage, barricading roads. Traffic and schooling are also heavily disrupted in a protest over houses, sanitation and electricity.
The provincial government on Tuesday engaged with the community and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs was given two weeks to consolidate a report on issues raised by the Thembelihle community.
Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo said they remain sensitive and concerned about the needs of this community.
“What must be borne in mind is that most of these issues require multi-stakeholder response such as Joburg Water for water and sanitation and Eskom and City Power for electricity supply to the area.
“Our work is to coordinate these stakeholders and rolling out services takes some time. It is for this reason that we plead with the community to stay calm, refrain from violence and allow government time and space to respond,” MEC Mamabolo said.
One of the impediments to human settlements developments in the area is dolomite. However, residents have contested this.
The department says it will approach the Council for Geoscience for opinion on the land safety in the area and a way forward.
Over the years, residents of Thembelihle have been gradually relocated to the nearby Lehae mixed housing development. – SAnews.gov.za
