By Karabo Ngoepe
Pretoria – Residents of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, continued blocking roads in the township late on Monday as police patrolled the area following violent protests.
Two members of the Red Ants, a security company, were killed when residents protested against their eviction from Sekampangeng. The Red Ants, dressed in their red overalls, began demolishing their shacks after the City of Tshwane obtained a court order.
Small groups of residents blocked parts of the Molefe Makinta freeway.
Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said residents began throwing stones and petrol bombs at the Red Ants in the morning. Two of the employees were killed in the altercation and six injured.
Several vehicles were burned.
#Hammanskraal Protests against forced evictions are continuing into a second day in Hammanskraal. VM pic.twitter.com/6tmwmCQ0od
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 24, 2016
Cases of murder and malicious damage to property were opened.
The South African National Civic Organisation blamed the violence on the EFF. National spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu accused the party of encouraging the illegal occupation of land.
“EFF must take responsibility for encouraging illegal occupation of land, subsequent violent confrontation, and loss of lives,” he said.
He appealed on people not to allow others to exploit their genuine concerns to further their personal interests and narrow political agendas.
He called on the Gauteng provincial government to intervene and restore order. –Â News24
Source:Â http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/hammanskraal-residents-vow-to-continue-protests-20160523
