Residents are demanding electricity, housing and sanitation. They have for long been using illegal connections, which have since been disrupted
THE 11-year-old boy who was admitted to Chris-Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital after being shot in the face was discharged yesterday.
Tebogo Tshwala was injured when he was hit by a stray rubber bullet during violent service delivery protests at Thembelihle informal settlement near Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, on Monday.
Tshwala was left grazed, swollen and bleeding from his right cheek.
His mother, Thulisile Tshwala, told Sowetan her son was discharged yesterday afternoon after spending the night in the hospital. She said Tebogo was taken to hospital by the police.
Tshwala said her son was shot with a rubber bullet while standing outside their home during a police raid on the squatter camp in pursuit of violent protesters.
Hundreds of angry residents blocked the busy Klipspruit Valley Road with rocks, burning tyres and other objects on the second day of the protests.
They pelted the police with stones, who later retaliated by firing rubber bullets.
Traffic was diverted because of the demonstrations.
Three substations in the area were burnt, resulting in a total blackout in neighbouring Lenasia.
Robots at an intersection outside the squatter camp were pulled out.
Residents are demanding electricity, housing and sanitation. They have for long been using illegal connections, which have since been disrupted.
Another resident, Sipho Tshayamoya, 40, was also injured yesterday on his right leg after being shot, allegedly by the police.
"I was in my house sleeping and did not participate in the protests. When the police stormed into my house I hid under the bed and they fired rubber bullets at me. How can they attack me in my own house, where I thought I was safe?" Tshayamoya asked.
Another victim, Nick Adams, 16, claimed he was walking with his friend in the area when he was attacked.
Nick said police stopped and assaulted them.
"For no apparent reason, police started kicking and punching us. I don't know why we were attacked."
Nick and Tshayamoya were both taken to hospital by the police.
Sapa reports that police yesterday claimed residents fired live ammunition at them during the protests, forcing them to fire rubber bullets.
"They shot at police and a councillor's house with live ammunition," Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said.
"Nobody was injured," she said.
Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar yesterday said that Klipspruit Valley Road would be closed.
"Motorists should use the Golden Highway or Nirvana Drive as alternate routes, as there are still rocks and tyres on the road," he said.
The DA in Gauteng called on MEC for local government and housing Humphrey Mmemezi to respond to the protests and investigate the causes.
Another day of protests
Residents are demanding electricity, housing and sanitation. They have for long been using illegal connections, which have since been disrupted
THE 11-year-old boy who was admitted to Chris-Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital after being shot in the face was discharged yesterday.
Tebogo Tshwala was injured when he was hit by a stray rubber bullet during violent service delivery protests at Thembelihle informal settlement near Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, on Monday.
Tshwala was left grazed, swollen and bleeding from his right cheek.
His mother, Thulisile Tshwala, told Sowetan her son was discharged yesterday afternoon after spending the night in the hospital. She said Tebogo was taken to hospital by the police.
Tshwala said her son was shot with a rubber bullet while standing outside their home during a police raid on the squatter camp in pursuit of violent protesters.
Hundreds of angry residents blocked the busy Klipspruit Valley Road with rocks, burning tyres and other objects on the second day of the protests.
They pelted the police with stones, who later retaliated by firing rubber bullets.
Traffic was diverted because of the demonstrations.
Three substations in the area were burnt, resulting in a total blackout in neighbouring Lenasia.
Robots at an intersection outside the squatter camp were pulled out.
Residents are demanding electricity, housing and sanitation. They have for long been using illegal connections, which have since been disrupted.
Another resident, Sipho Tshayamoya, 40, was also injured yesterday on his right leg after being shot, allegedly by the police.
"I was in my house sleeping and did not participate in the protests. When the police stormed into my house I hid under the bed and they fired rubber bullets at me. How can they attack me in my own house, where I thought I was safe?" Tshayamoya asked.
Another victim, Nick Adams, 16, claimed he was walking with his friend in the area when he was attacked.
Nick said police stopped and assaulted them.
"For no apparent reason, police started kicking and punching us. I don't know why we were attacked."
Nick and Tshayamoya were both taken to hospital by the police.
Sapa reports that police yesterday claimed residents fired live ammunition at them during the protests, forcing them to fire rubber bullets.
"They shot at police and a councillor's house with live ammunition," Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said.
"Nobody was injured," she said.
Johannesburg Metro Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar yesterday said that Klipspruit Valley Road would be closed.
"Motorists should use the Golden Highway or Nirvana Drive as alternate routes, as there are still rocks and tyres on the road," he said.
The DA in Gauteng called on MEC for local government and housing Humphrey Mmemezi to respond to the protests and investigate the causes.
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