Service delivery protests rock Lamontville again
Updated | By Lauren Beukes and Gcinokuhle Malinga
Protestors have taken to the streets again - this time in both Lamontville and Umlazi. Durban Metro Police say demonstrators have blocked several main roads including the N2 and M4.
This is the second day of service delivery protests.
More than 200 people have been taking part in this morning's demonstrations since 5am.
Metro Police spokesperson, Parboo Sewpersad says Informal settlements of Shayamoya, in Lamontville adjacent to the Gwala road Settlement, are protesting, indicating that they have no water, no electricity and have no houses.
"We have now engaged with them and currently the South African police service and the public Order Policing of Durban metro police are negotiating with the 200 protesters."
Protestors have taken to the streets again, this time in both Lamontville and Umlazi. Demonstrators have blocked several main roads including the N2 and M4, this morning.
— Lauren_Beukes39 (@LBeukes39) July 21, 2020
Video supplied.@ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/VJPVfiYsVi
Sewpersad says they had to exercise caution, "Most of these protesters are using children as frontline so its a huge challenge for us on the public order policing members"
Some Lamontville residents say they’re extremely disappointed by the protest action, that spiraled out of control yesterday.
Protest action this morning in Durban South. @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/PGzOb5zrUL
— Lauren_Beukes39 (@LBeukes39) July 20, 2020
Residents in formal houses disconnected their illegal connections after a transformer blew.
Angry demonstrators torched a centre that housed a SASSA office, a clinic, and six state vehicles:
For them to burn the clinic which is helping us, helping our grandmothers, which is close to us and has been there for years," said a resident.
"We are just worried if these people can do this, what is going to happen in the future. Our lives are not safe because we make a move or maybe complain or also try and boycott, then it means that our children are going to be in danger."
A resident who wants to remain anonymous believes the protests will continue.
"They are still blocking the road, they are running around this area and the police are around they are trying to stop them. What I've heard is that they are not going to stop, they are just going to continue. They are now threatening us, saying they are going to burn the schools."
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