Daily Sun (September 2 2014) - An enraged attacker leaned over him and held his leg, ready to hit him with his fist. Another protester, a few metres away, is poised like a striking snake, ready to throw a rock that, if it hit its target, would cause severe damage.
This is just one of the dramatic scenes at a service delivery protest that spiralled out of control, turning into a violent confrontation of rocks against rubber bullets and tear gas.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, residents of Finetown, Mountain View, in the south of Joburg started their protest for a decent sewerage system.
They marched to the Golden Highway, throwing rocks at passing cars. Police arrived to disperse the protesters. What was already a tense situation went from bad to worse when police started firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
The protesters continued throwing rocks at cops. Eventually, the police raced off in their single Nyala, returning later with reinforcements.
A resident, Siphokazi Mrubata, said they were promised a proper sewerage system by Housing MMC Daniel Bovu and other ANC officials during a visit on 5 May.
"Even today we are still waiting," she said. Mrubata said they had spoken to the MMC later in the day and he promised to speak to them by Sunday.
"If we don't get our response, we will go to the streets again," she said. JMPD Chief Superintended Wayne Minnaar said two private cars belonging to their officers were smashed. He said one female officer was taken to hospital after she suffered from shock.
MMC Daniel Bovu said the City of Joburg did not have a sewerage capacity to accommodate residents in Mountain View. "We want to do an alternative sewer, known as vacuum sewerage," said Bovu.
He said the residents would have their response on Sunday.
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