Africa-Press – South-Africa. Several people protesting against the presence of illegal miners were arrested in Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, on Thursday morning, as residents continued to clash with police.
A group of residents pelted police officers with stones and empty bottles, and the officers retaliated by firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. However, some protesters used corrugated iron sheets to shield themselves from the rubber bullets.
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Due to the protest, many roads in the area, including Main Reef Road, were inaccessible as residents barricaded them using burning tyres and rocks.
Motorists had to turn around to avoid areas where protesters and police were clashing.
Kagiso Ward 5 councillor Kabelo Motlhophe said they wanted to talk to residents to restore law and order in the township:
Motlhophe said five people were arrested.
He said all schools in the township were closed.
“The issue in Kagiso is crime and not only zama zamas because the community has been addressing the issue of crime since long ago. Even in my ward, in Extension 13, we have been having issues with [armed] robberies.”
Motlhophe said residents were concerned about rape and armed robberies at local shops.
“Three months back, they stole computers from our clinic.”
Residents embarked on the protest following the robbery and gang-rape of eight women who were part of a crew filming a music video in Krugersdorp last week.
Police later conducted an operation and arrested a group of illegal miners.
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