Africa-Press – South-Africa. Kidpower Nzima, an informal trader in Diepsloot, says he is losing income amid the persistent protests in the suburb.
Nzima, who sells veggies on the roadside, said that some protesters stole his goods and insisted that he joined the strike.
“The strike has affected me a lot. I end up not making any money. I understand their complaints, but I don’t understand why they don’t address their grievances with the relevant people. They can strike, but how they are doing it now is not good,” he said.
Nzima said the strike affected foot traffic to his stall, which meant he lost customers.
Diepsloot residents are protesting against crime in the area and want President Cyril Ramaphosa to engage them.
The residents said two weeks ago that visits by political leaders, including Police Minister Bheki Cele, had not improved their living conditions.
They believe a face-to-face engagement with Ramaphosa will yield a permanent solution.
A community leader and member of the Diepsloot Community Forum, Maropeng Letswalo, said the community would not change its stance.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said that law enforcement were deployed to monitor the situation in the suburb.
He said the protests were becoming violent.
Masondo said the police were working with community leaders and had made several arrests of perpetrators of violence.
Responding to calls for more police visibility and a harsher response to crime, Masondo encouraged residents to report cases to enable the police to effect arrests.
“We have arrested people who committed serious and violent crimes, and we have cases that are in court,” he said.
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