South African demonstrations in Soweto over service delivery. The police disperse the gathering using rubber bullets., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Aug 10 2013 12:25PM
Police disperse Soweto protesters
Traffic had been diverted off Chris Hani Road and motorists were advised to stay off Ndaba Road and the N12 near the area. They were advised to go through Dobsonville and Diepkloof.
Protesters who gathered in Protea Glen South in Soweto on Saturday have been dispersed, Gauteng police said.
"We dispersed them with rubber bullets but no one was injured or arrested," said Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela.
Police were monitoring the area.
Earlier, Johannesburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the protests began at around 3am.
"They are burning tyres and throwing stones," he said.
Traffic had been diverted off Chris Hani Road and motorists were advised to stay off Ndaba Road and the N12 near the area. They were advised to go through Dobsonville and Diepkloof.
Makhubela said some shop owners in the area had been afraid of opening their businesses because of the protests.
"Even some shop owners at the mall in Protea Gardens have been afraid to open their shops but police are out there in their numbers," he said.
Makhubela issued a warning to the protesters.
"If they continue vandalising other people's property, they will be arrested," he said.
Protests in the area started on Thursday with locals demanding better service delivery.
Police said on Thursday that 19 people had been arrested but Makhubela said the number had increased to 22 by Thursday evening and all were still in police custody.
"Four of those people were arrested for looting a shop. Among the 22 arrested, there are eight women," said Makhubela.
The group would appear in the Protea Magistrate's Court on Monday for charges ranging from public violence, to malicious damage to property and looting.
-Sapa
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