Calm has returned to the streets of Villiersdorp, where approximately 500 protesters took to the streets early Friday morning.
Local police and officers of the Public Order Police Unit had to fire rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the large crowd.
Lieutenant-Colonel Chrisna Auret, Villiersdorp Police Station commander, stated members of the community had taken to the streets to demand that a private security company that had been employed by Theewaterskloof (TWK) Municipality to demolish illegal structures in the informal settlements should cease their work and leave the area.
The large crowd of protesters necessitated the closure of the road on the corner of Buitenkant and Graaff Street.
Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, TWK’s Acting Municipal Manager, confirmed that municipal officials, the police, Public Order Police (POP) unit as well as traffic and law enforcement officers were deployed to the scene.
“The protesters were demanding that Theewaterskloof Municipality withdraw the security company appointed to protect the land and prevent the breaking down of structures,” he said.
“By the time Senior Human Settlements Department officials arrived in Villiersdorp to address the growing crowd it had already increased to 250 people.
“First attempts at calming the situation were interrupted when protesters started looting nearby stores. Once the crowd was under control they were once again addressed, and it was decided a meeting would be held with protesters on Monday 3 April at the Villiersdorp Resource Centre.”
The crowd dispersed after meeting with municipal officials.
Solomons-Johannes reported the municipality has been on high alert over the past few weeks to stop the illegal invasion of land around the Destiny Farm housing development project.
This housing development project will unlock approximately 1 400 housing opportunities in the area.
“Beneficiaries of this housing project have been vocal about their concerns and rejection of people trying to invade the land illegally, as they fear this will delay and prevent the project from taking place,” Solomons-Johannes stated.
“As a municipality it is our responsibility to protect the land, and we take this responsibility very seriously, to ensure that as many housing opportunities are unlocked for residents as possible, as many have been waiting on the housing database for a long time.”
Phase 1 of the project has started in Berg-en-Dal and contractors are on site installing civil services like water, sanitation and electricity.
Auret confirmed police were investigating a case of public violence and malicious damage to property. The malicious damage to property charge stems from an incident where vehicles belonging to the security company were stoned.
“Two people were also hit by stones but they were not seriously injured,” Auret stated.
No arrests for incidents relating to the unrest have been made yet.
