Prince George Drive in Steenberg swiftly turned volatile on Monday 23 September, resulting in law enforcement agencies discharging rubber bullets to disperse an angry crowd.
In a statement on Wednesday 25 September, Mayco member for safety and security ,JP Smith, said police had to take action after live rounds were allegedly discharged from the crowd.
“The community had gathered, supposedly outraged at the replacement of electricity meters,” he explained. “The protest quickly became violent with roads being barricaded and passing vehicles stoned.”
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Police deployed the Public Order Policing unit, together with law enforcement officers and the Tactical Response Unit (TRU) to bring the chaos under control.
“In an attempt to engage the protesters in conversation, several persons within the protesting crowd began discharging live rounds at our staff and the police,” said Smith. “Shotgun rubber rounds were fired in response by agencies, along with stun grenades and CS gas.”
A case of public violence has since been opened at Steenberg Police station.
“It is a well established fact that the City of Cape Town is under the same pressure, after Eskom having applied a massive increase to the charge for electricity supplied to the municipality,” he added. “The City of Cape Town is dedicated to resisting the increased charges brought about by Eskom. This is the very reason why the Lifeline tariff system in Cape Town was brought about, which any user can apply for.”
Smith accused the protest organisers of intentionally creating public anger with misinformation.
“Purposefully confusing these facts to drive public anger clearly shows the true intent of these organisers, as they cause vital enforcement staff to be diverted away from other areas that rely on their policing presence.”
Meanwhile, the 7945 Action Group organisers of the event, accused the police and law enforcement officers of using “apartheid tactics” in response to real concerns of the poor.
“We were anticipating push back from law enforcement but we need clarity regarding police involvement yesterday’s (Monday) apartheid style operandi modus,” a statement read.
“The community of Lavender Hill’s reaction to police brutally last night was precisely how the uprising of 1976, 1980 and 1985 started, when people mobilised to show their unhappiness under the apartheid government.”
The statement further added the poor needed change for the better in their communities.
“Surely, the City will defend their actions by arguing who provoked who yesterday, but be that as it may, we as the poor stand unapologetic about the fact that we need change for the better, in our poor communities,” the statement read.
“We will not be moved; you can shoot us and you can lock us up but we shall not be moved because we fought too hard to have democracy in South Africa.”
The 7945 Action Group added that the living conditions of the poor in the Western Cape have not improved since the dawn of democracy.
“Instead of making an assertive effort to address the challengers the poor is raising regarding high electricity costs, teacher budget cuts, high unemployment, a housing crisis and poor safety and security their human rights to peaceful demonstration are being infringed upon.”
