Sebokeng residents blockade the Golden Highway

Press alert issued by the Coalition Against Water Privatisation, 29 April 2008

Tuesday 29 April 2008 by Ahmed

SEBOKENG, JOHANNESBURG - Sebokeng Ward 2 Concerned Residents have continued their protests against the refusal by government to hear their demands. Since submitting a memorandum to the Houtkop municipality on the 10th of March (refer to the statement announcing the march pasted here below), no response has been received. The residents went to see the councilor on Sunday, Freedom Day, to get answers but she refused even then to respond to the memorandum. With all formal avenues to raise their grievances closed, the residents resolved to stage a blockade of the Golden Highway. The blockade was started at 4a.m. on the 29th of April at the four-way intersection in Sebokeng Zone 16 and was still standing by late afternoon.

The police reacted to the blockade by shooting live rounds of ammunition. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained by the protestors. An unaccounted number of arrests have been made as the police conduct a house-to-house search in Sebokeng Zone 20 for anyone they suspect of participating in the blockade.