EIKENHOF – Sometime later the agitated crowd became restless and started to throw petrol bombs and rocks into the intersection.
Johannesburg Metro Police Department and Mondeor and Johannesburg SAPS arrived on the scene shortly after and asked for calm, closing the road from Main Road to the four-way intersection .
The protesters began rioting in the road, blocking off the intersection of Old Vereeniging Road, the R544 to Lenasia and R550 to Kliprivier with steel pipes and rocks. Some of the rioters were from the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) party.
The angry mob, at one time, charged towards SAPS and JMPD members and they retaliated by firing rubber bullets into the crowd to try and disperse them. Most of the rioters ran into the surrounding veld, while others stood calmly by the road.
At 14:40 Ward 122 Councillor Thabile Nkosi arrived on the scene. The reporter asked her why she thought the residents were rioting.
“In December some of the Jackson Drift residents were moved into houses in Lehae. MEC for Human Settlements Jacob Mamabolo said no one would be allowed to move onto the empty stands. This has not happened and the empty stands are now being lived on. Residents are furious about this and want something done,” she said.
Cllr Nkosi said she would meet with Jackson Drift’s committee members on Thursday August 7 to see if they can come to some kind of agreement.
By 15:30 calm had been restored and Old Vereeniging Road was reopened to traffic, although JMPD and SAPS members remained, monitoring the situation.
As early as 02:00 on Thursday August 7, the protesters began to block roads in and around the intersection on the R554 and R550 with huge rocks, and as dawn broke a pallor of black smoke could be seen hanging over the intersection as tyres had been set alight.
The police presence was high with JMPD and SAPS congregating as early as 05:00. Members of the riot squad were also on the scene. Traffic was badly affected as roads were closed, only letting traffic through from Walkerville on the R550.
“We have to get our children to school, and we’ve been told to take Kliprivier Road through to Waterstone College. I can’t believe how bad this is, it’s very dangerous,” said a parent.
Rioters later began to run into the intersection and tear gas was used to disperse them, causing them to run back into the veld.
At the time of going to press it was still unclear why the residents were protesting, and Cllr Nkosi hadn’t put in an appearance to speak to the Jackson Drift residents.
Six people were arrested for public violence.
