Zandspruit protest ends

13 June 2012 - 12:51
By Sapa

Beyers Naude drive has been re-opened, after residents of the Zandspruit informal settlement barricaded the road and threw stones at cars, Johannesburg metro police said

“The protest has now ended, and we, along with the JRA (Johannesburg Roads Agency) have started to clear the debris,” spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

He said the protesters dispersed just after 9am.  

Earlier, police officers were deployed to Beyers Naude drive when residents threw rocks at passing cars and burnt tyres in the road.

A section of the road was subsequently closed.  

Minnaar said the residents were protesting because they wanted to host the ANC centenary flame.  

“We now know why they were protesting, they wanted the ANC centenary flame to go to Zandspruit.”

But media reports from the scene said the protest was related to service delivery in the area.