Police monitoring Reiger Park amid clashes with Joe Slovo residents
Reiger Park residents have accused some people in Joe Slovo of stealing copper cables.
JOHANNESBURG - Ekurhuleni police are monitoring Reiger Park after clashes broke between residents and community members from the Joe Slovo informal settlement.
Earlier on Friday, police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Reiger Park residents have accused some people in Joe Slovo of stealing copper cables.
Conflict in Reiger Park, after a members of a nearby informal settlement were allegedly caught of cable theft. 🎥: @AbigailJavier_ pic.twitter.com/86wjRo0SEN
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 12, 2018
Police vans and nyalas were patrolling the streets in the area, keeping a close watch on the situation.
They were called in to break up a standoff between the two communities.
Residents of Reiger Park accuse their neighbours of stealing copper cables and leaving them without power for long periods of time.
Tensions are rising here, community members appear to be upset with the police. The police are keeping them from going into the informal Joe Slovo settlement. 🎥: @AbigailJavier_ #ReigerPark pic.twitter.com/sqis9FgU2Y
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 12, 2018
Police used rubber bullets to prevent Reiger Park residents from going into Joe Slovo to retrieve what they say are their copper cables.
Police say while calm has been restored they’ll monitor the situation.
RESIDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT POWER OUTAGES
The community of Reiger Park is calling on local government to step in and end cable theft in the area.
Community leader David Foster says constant power outages have had serious consequences.
“We need to prioritise these demands now, it’s becoming frustrating. People are seeking ways to vent their frustration [and] we don’t want to resort to violence.”
WATCH: Violence escalates in Reiger Park
