STELLENBOSCH – Clashes between residents, the Stellenbosch municipal Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and the Red Ants allegedly broke out this past weekend after locals sought to put up informal housing in Jonkershoek.
According to the Stellenbosch Municipality, law enforcement officers and the Red Ants, a team specialising clearing clear illegal land occupations, demolish unauthorised structures, and assist law enforcement, were deployed in Jonkershoek in accordance with the municipality’s standard operating procedures.
It seems the locals sought to put up housing at the MTO Forestry at Jonkershoek Road.
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“The municipality cannot allow individuals to erect structures unlawfully wherever they choose, without complying with the applicable legal and municipal requirements. The municipality acts within the confines of the law and will continue to apply legislation and relevant procedures consistently,” the Stellenbosch Municipality said in a statement.
During the demolition by the authority a group of individuals became aggressive and attacked the TRU as well as the Red Ants, the municipality claims. As a results the TRU used pepper spray as a means of defending itself.
Pit Bulls unleashed
“According to information available to the municipality, two members of the public went to a nearby residence, obtained pit bull dogs and unleashed them on the team and the Red Ants. At the same time, members of the crowd continued throwing stones at the officers and personnel on the scene. Due to the immediate threat to the safety and lives of those involved, stun grenades and rubber rounds were discharged in an attempt to repel the attack and protect personnel on the scene,” the municipal statement reads.
When it comes to housing issues clashes and chaos between residents and municipal law enforcers is nothing new in Stellenbosch. In March law enforcers and community members in Kreefgat, Ida’s Valley clashed when the municipality tried to erect temporary housing.
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Ida’s Valley residents said they were never consulted about the temporary housing and called out the Stellenbosch Municipality for wanting to “throw” people on an open field without any services. Law enforcement officers fired teargas and rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
As was the case in Kreefgat in March, the municipality said its officers and the Red Ants came under a “heavy stone attack” while withdrawing from the area this weekend.
Good Party says innocent people shot
In response to the demolition on Saturday councilor Marius van Stade (Good) said residents of Op-die-Bult in Jonkershoek informed him innocent people, including children were shot at. Van Stade, who is Good’s mayoral candidate in the upcoming Local Government Election (LGE), said he will launch an urgent request to the Stellenbosch municipal manager, Geraldine Mettler, for an official, independent enquiry into the incident. “No resident or child should live in fear for their lives. Residents deserve safe communities, protection, and accountability. These serious allegations cannot go unanswered,” said Van Stade.
For its part, he municipality said it would not be “drawn into political mudslinging and remains focused on fulfilling its legal mandate and enforcing the law in the interests of all residents”.
Nova News has reached out to Stellenbosch police to confirm if any official cases have been registered in connection to the incident but had not received any feedback at the time of publishing. Comment will be added to this news article if received.
