A group of Mitchell’s Plain residents – who mostly live in backyard shacks – invaded land at Tafelsig and refused to leave yesterday. Rather than leave, they threw bricks and rocks at police who responded by firing rubber bullets at them and then added a torrent of water from a water cannon and teargas as well.
The clashes followed land invasions next to Swartklip Road sports field and an open piece of land near Kapteinsklip station in Tafelsig. The city’s anti-land invasion unit demolished hundreds of structures that had already been erected by the landless backyard dwellers.
On Monday angry residents retaliated by pelting police with stones and setting fire to tyres in bushes alongside Swartklip Road that had already been renamed New Horizons by the land invaders.
About 400 illegal structures had been erected over the weekend but after Monday’s mayhem only five or six of these remained and were due to be torn down as soon as the crowds had dispersed.
Two young troublemakers fired guns at police using live ammunition. At least 18 people, including children and police officers were injured during the clashes and 14 residents were arrested.
Police brought in a helicopter, used the water cannon and sprayed jets of bright blue water at residents. A number of tear gas canisters were lobbed into the crowd in an effort to get them to disperse.
City spokesman Pieter Cronje said that it seemed as if these land invasion had been well-organised and deliberately time to take place just ahead of the elections.
Cape Town mayor Dan Plato said that the orchestrated land invasion took place so close to the elections that “I have to say it’s politically motivated.”
Readers' Comments Have a comment about this article? Email us now.
Print
