Reservoir Hills unrest simmers down
Calm has been restored to Reservoir Hills in Durban following Monday morning's violent protests on the M19 by residents of a nearby informal settlement.
eThekwini Metro Police say the unrest was over the clampdown on illegal electricity connection.
The area's Community Policing Forums's Ray Jeawon says authorities have managed to bring the situation under control.
"Police have dispersed the protesters. There is a lot of damage to the roads and a few vehicles have been burnt and also the local mall was breached.
READ: WATCH: Durban under fire as more protests erupt
"They [protesters] broke down the fencing and went into the Checkers bottle store and they looted. There's a lot of damage. "
A Reservoir Hills resident and owner of a security company says he's been working since the early hours of this morning to try to control violent demonstrations.
Ish Prahladh has expressed anger at the now defused situation - saying protests on the busy route between Umgeni Road and Westville - have spiraled out of control.
"I was on scene from 5am this morning. It was bad, very bad. The Reservoir Hills residents were locked in and couldn't get out to go to the work.
"Our CPF Chair Pravin's car was set alight, and fortunately we managed to move all other cars out of the way because what we were doing is, we were blocking so the residents dont get into the crossfire but as we were standing, we had to move back because they were advancing towards us."
ALSO READ: PICS: Protesters bring M19 highway to standstill
City spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela says some illegal connections have been disconnected in the are.
He's condemned the public violence.
"Every year we are bleeding millions of rands as a result of illegal connections, so it is, therefore, our responsibility to clampdown on the illicit behaviour because it overburdens the grid which happens to result to some of our transformers exploding."
