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 Tue, 06 Jul 2004
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JOHANNESBURG
Seven held after violent community riot
Posted Tue, 06 Jul 2004

Seven people were arrested after violence erupted in Diepsloot north of Johannesburg on Monday when residents protested against their removal to Brits, police said.

The seven would appear in a Pretoria court on Tuesday to face charges of arson and public violence, Pretoria police spokesperson Inspector Percy Morokane said.

Johannesburg metro police Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said a metro police officer was injured when struck by a brick.

The officer was taken to Milpark Hospital.

Earlier on Monday residents of the area — partly an informal settlement, partly proper housing — went on a rampage, setting alight two city council buildings.

The residents are protesting their relocation from Diepsloot to Brits on July 14 "without any reason".

"We must move from shack to house"

The residents were moved to Diepsloot from Alexandra in 2000 after flooding along the Jukskei River.

Resident Linah Magane said she worked in Randburg, and would not move to Brits as it would be too far for her to travel.

"I am not moving," she said. "How am I going to travel from Brits to Randburg? It's far."

Another resident, Zinhle Khumalo, said: "When we moved from Alex(andra) to Diepsloot, we were told that Diepsloot is the end of the road. Why are they moving us now?"

Khumalo said the move would cost her R50 in travel expenses and it would further disrupt her children's schooling.

Refusing to disperse at the request of a community leader, Michael Tladi, one of the residents said: "We cannot move from shack to shack. We must move from shack to house."

Another person, who stood behind Tladi, shouted: "Shack to shack does not work." Another one said: "Shack to house, not shack to shack."

When repeatedly asked to disperse, the crowd became more emphatic in their response and shouted: "Asiyi eBrits thina (We are not going to Brits."

The police fired rubber bullets at the crowd.

One of the council buildings was razed by the fire. The inside of the second building was burnt, leaving remnants of files, condoms and gloves.

A number of large municipal waste bins were pulled into the street to prevent the police from moving freely through the township.

Reasons for move not clear

Minnaar said the police would maintain a strong presence in the area until the situation was completely normal. But there was speculation that residents wanted to burn councillors' homes.

Tension was lower than what it has been earlier in the day, he said.

Irate protesters said that local councillor Sarafina Mulaudzi had recently informed them that they would be moved to Brits on July 14.

It was not clear why the city council wanted to move residents. No one at the Johannesburg City Council's housing department was immediately available for comment.

Sapa

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