More than 200 residents from Redhill informal settlement in Simon’s Town, fed-up with water shortages, took to the streets in violent protest on Wednesday 27 April.
Protestors barricaded Red Hill Road with burning tyres, reportedly also stoning firefighters and law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene.
Sharon White, a community leader, said they have been having water issues for the past two months.
“We have been having trouble with water supply at Redhill for the past two months and recently it has become worse. We do not have water at all.
“We have four camps, the top camp has to come all the way down to the bottom camp to fetch water.”
White says while each camp has a tap in their section, some have been having issues with water pressure and sometimes having no water at all.
“It’s far to carry a full bucket of water. The community was just fed-up because it’s getting out of hand.” she says.
She adds that the water problems are very concerning especially for the elderly.
“There are a lot of elderly people, some have to take medication and others have to pay school children to fetch water. It is very upsetting, it is our right to have water, there is nothing you can do without water.”
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, said firefighters from Simon’s Town and Kommetjie were despatched to the scene.
“Law enforcement became aware of a small group of approximately 100 protesters which had gathered from the Redhill informal settlement above Simon’s Town. Several fires were set alight across the roadway, where firefighting appliances were despatched from both Simon’s Town and Kommetjie fire stations.”
Smith added that the crowd grew to more than 200 people.
“The unruly crowd then took to using a chainsaw to cut down larger trees lining Red Hill Road, causing these to fall across the roadway as additional barricades, before these too were then set alight.”
The fire consequently spread to surrounding areas and up the mountain slopes along the Redhill area.
“Metro police tactical response team had already been deployed and upon arrival was able to secure the area allowing firefighters to begin their work on the fire. Since the risk had grown significantly due to the prevention of services from fire and rescue, a helicopter was used to begin water bombing of the area.
“Shortly before 19:00 the fire was declared extinguished and appliances were recalled out of the area.”
Smith added that a case of public violence would be registered.
“Every citizen still has the right to protest, but where such protests turn violent, where infrastructure is damaged or where the safety of fellow citizens is compromised, it then becomes a criminal act.
“The City condemns the attacks on emergency responders or on our infrastructure and we will support police as far as possible to bringing those responsible to account for such actions,” said Smith.
