Mitchells Plain residents have been called on to defend their homes from land invaders who went on a rampage on Tuesday night.
Thirty people were arrested after more than 12 hours of violent protests on Jakes Gerwel Drive, opposite Highlands Village, which saw roads closed, a truck torched, cars pelted, shops looted and an ATM machine set alight and robbed.
Residents in the informal settlement of Siqalo brought traffic to a standstill over what they called “empty promises” made to them by the City of Cape Town.
Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
According to City officials, Jakes Gerwel Drive was closed between the R300 and Highlands Drive, while other road closures included key routes of Weltevreden, Morgenster and Varkensvlei roads, as well as Highlands and Fulan.
The closures caused many infuriated Mitchells Plain residents, stuck in traffic for hours on Wednesday morning, to go back home.
About 300 Siqalo residents started protesting at 11pm on Tuesday, but things quickly turned violent when the Absa Bank ATM at the Caltex garage on Highlands Drive, as well as a nearby fruit and vegetable stall, were looted and set alight.
Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
The protest on Wednesday saw worried residents of Rondevlei, Colorado Park and Highlands Village stand with police on Jakes Gerwel Drive, keeping a watchful eye on the protesters.
By 1pm, the protest action had abated, and the area was calm but tense on Wednesday afternoon.
About 2 000 people now live in Siqalo after the land was occupied in 2013.
The large property belongs mostly to Ross Demolition, and over the last two years, residents demanding basic service delivery have regularly rioted in the area.
Faizel Hendricks, a resident of Mitchells Plain and the owner of the fruit and veg stall that was looted, said stock of more than R50 000 was stolen, while his truck was destroyed.
Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
Faizel is known in the community for feeding the poor.
“I feel empty. I help them, feed them and I work hard for my family and now I have to start from scratch. Not all the people in Siqalo are bad. I am grateful for the Mitchells Plain community who came out to assist and fight against these criminals from Siqalo,” he says.
The protesters are demanding land, decent houses and proper municipal services like water and electricity.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “They (the City) can give us land or buy the land from the owner. They must give him land to go and work somewhere else. We have spoken to the City and Robert Ross (landowner).
“We have been emailing the City of Cape Town and they have not responded, that is why we are standing here.”
Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
Ross did not respond to requests for comment.
However, a Mitchells Plain community leader, who asked to remain anonymous, said the real issue was “lawlessness” and warned a war is brewing.
“This illegal settlement has become a criminal threat to the farms and communities surrounding it,” the resident said.
“We need major intervention. The real issue is criminality. It is only a matter of time before the settlement and its neighbours get embroiled in a physical confrontation.”
Last night a voice note went viral on WhatsApp in which a man appeals to residents to stand together.
“I’m appealing to all the men in Highland Village to please avail themselves this evening (Wednesday night). These people are busy with nonsense and we need to stand together to protect our area. I’m also asking the wives, please encourage your husband to come to the park, we can meet there at 8.30pm or 9pm, please, kanala, die ding ruk hierso,” he said.
ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs denied racial tension between blacks and coloureds was at the heart of the violence.
“Residents in Siqalo are acting in desperation, while Mitchells Plain residents are responding out of fear. This is not a racial issue, and we are calling on the communities for calm as we find a solution,” he said.
All roads in the area were re-opened by 2.30pm on Wednesday, except for Weltevreden which remained closed for clean-up, the City’s Maxine Bezuidenhout said.
Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency/ANA
Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements; Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg confirmed the City would not be buying the land for housing development.
Limberg and Mayoral Committee Member for Area South, Eddie Andrews, on Wednesday met with Siqalo community leaders to address their grievances.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, says the 30 people arrested would face charges of public violence and would appear in the Athlone Magistrate's Court soon.