Rubber bullets fired at 'bare bum' protesters

Police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters who bared their bottoms during a service delivery protest in Diepkloof Zone Six, Soweto, on Wednesday (11/06/2014).

"They [the protesters] were showing their bums by taking their trousers down on the street... [to] show their anger with service delivery issues," Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said.

Chris Hani Road was barricaded with rocks and burning tyres.

Police used teargas and fired rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.

No one was injured or arrested.

By 9.40am the protesters had left the scene.

Police earlier tried to diffuse the situation by calling the ward councillor to address the angry residents, but they did not believe their concerns over water and electricity would be resolved, Makhubela said.

Earlier, Gauteng traffic police spokesman Obed Sibasa advised motorists to avoid Chris Hani Road between Nicolus Street (Power Park) and the Soweto Empowerment Zone, which he referred to as the employment centre.

There was a strong police presence in the area.

Sibasa described the situation as "tense, unsafe, however under control".

Motorists from Johannesburg South and Soweto were advised to use Klipvalley Road to the Soweto Highway, or Immink Drive to Ben Naude through Diepkloof towards Johannesburg and Alberton, as alternatives. - Sapa