Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

Mfundekelwa Mkhulisi

A man was killed when a bakery bakkie hit him during a demonstration against poor service delivery in a Soweto street yesterday.

An undisclosed number of people, including two journalists, were injured when police fired rubber bullets to disperse residents of a Protea South informal settlement. The residents were demanding houses, electricity and water. They used huge rocks and burning tyres to blockade Old Potchefstroom Road.

The unidentified man, aged about 40, was among a mob that was chanting and dancing in the street during the protest.

Metro police spokesman Edna Mamonyane said the driver of the bakkie did not stop and the registration number was not noted.

In the clashes with protesters, police were forced to fire rubber bullets and water canons to disperse the crowd.

Community leader Maureen Mnisi said they resorted to the protest march because they were "tired of government's empty promises".

"They promised to build 3200 RDP houses by 2005 but that has not happened," she said.

Mnisi said that the government instead wanted to move them from their area to Doornkop because their place "was dolomitic".

"I fail to understand why we should move because there is a shopping mall and bond houses in the same area. Why are they not moved to Doornkop as well?" Mnisi asked.