Johannesburg - As violent protests over evictions entered day two in Hammanskraal on Tuesday morning, journalists were threatened and ordered to leave the area - with one having a gun shoved in his face.
Roads were blocked off with burning tyres and debris today following a day of violent clashes between residents and security guards sent to evict them.
Two people were killed in the resulting mayhem.
Photographers were ordered not to use their cameras but to use cellphones to take pictures.
Also, they were given strict instructions to not take pictures of protesters.
But one journalist was still targeted for taking a picture of a burning tyre using his cellphone.
Power FM reporter Moloko Moloto was left shaken after a community member shoved a pistol in his face.
“I’m terrified. I had to beg for my life. I could see the man was not in his senses. I'm not too sure what would have happened had some of the community members not intervened,” said Moloto.
Police Nyalas patrolled the area at intervals of 15 to 20 minutes this morning, but that did not stop residents from blocking off two main roads linking Hammanskraal and Soshanguve - Harry Gwala Avenue and Molefe Makinta Highway.
Residents demanded that Gauteng Premier David Makhura or Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa address them.
“This will go on until the mayor or premier come and address us,” said a man who declined to give his name.
Community member Jakes Maleka said on Monday that residents took to the streets after the security personnel hired to tear down their illegally constructed shacks arrived to carry out their task.
“That made the community angry because we didn't receive an eviction notice. When we asked them (security) for a court order they produced one, but when we looked at it our area was not on the court order,” he said.
In the ensuing chaos, two people were killed and several others injured, while buses that had transported the security personnel were torched.
Police spokesman Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng confirmed the deaths, saying it appeared the two people killed were “assaulted with blunt objects”.
Initial reports indicated that the two people killed were Red Ants members, but Red Ants managing director Johan Bosch said the two deceased and those injured were not Red Ants staff.
“They belonged to another private security company hired by the province to start evictions at another side of the property. We, in fact, went in to assist members of that company as they were outnumbered,” he said.
Ramokgopa condemned the violence, saying: “We remain deeply concerned by the acts of violence, displacements, confrontations, loss of property and gross disregard, as well as violation of human rights every time evictions take place.”
The Star