Tensions are palpable in Khayelitsha on Tuesday morning, as rioters have held the Cape Flats township hostage over disrupted land invasions.
Unrest in Khayelitsha: This is what we know
Renowned Facebook microblog Thembokwazi Community Crime Watch reported that four suspects have been placed under arrest and charged with burning down the Desmond Tutu Hall which was used as an extended medical facility to provide healthcare services to the township.
The tensions, it seems, were fuelled by the recent confrontation between eviction authorities and residents who have been attempting to illegally occupy a piece of land in nearby Mfuleni.
“Since last week, four people have been arrested for public violence in Mfuleni pertaining to the incidents of violence in the area and yesterday four suspects were arrested on a charge of arson following the torching of a hall in Khayelitsha,” Cape Town police spokesperson Andre Traut said.
Motorists warned to avoid the township
Disgruntled residents of the township have also targeted motorists along the busy Mew Way interchange in Site C, pelting vehicles with stones.
However, we understand that this riot is not linked to the retaliation towards the land invasions.
“A lot of private vehicles were also damaged in these attacks which has nothing to do with the protests which started over the weekend,” Thembokwazi noted in a Facebook post.
Khayelitsha rioters attack Eskom maintenance workers
Things got so intense, that Eskom was forced to retract its maintenance technicians after a company vehicle was stoned and set alight. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
At the time of publishing this article, the protests were still ongoing. Captain Traut noted that police have remained on scene to prevent further disruptions.
“The areas where protests occurred are still being monitored by our members to maintain law and order,” he said.
