Protesters rampage

[caption id="attachment_100443" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Young Vastrap residents flee as explosions rock a gutted bus in Booysen Park, Port Elizabeth. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE[/caption]

Bus torched, stripped in PE unrest over housing

ANGRY Vastrap informal settlement residents demanding proper housing went on the rampage in Port Elizabeth yesterday, torching a bus and damaging two others while throwing stones at the drivers.

Police first used water cannons to try to disperse the tyre-burning protesters in Booysen Park, but eventually resorted to rubber bullets and teargas.

The protesters threatened to target an electricity substation next if their housing demands were not met.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans said the residents were unhappy about the Department of Human Settlements’ relocation plans.

The protest, which started at about 4am, saw residents blocking all roads leading to the area with burning tyres and other objects, and demanding to be relocated to “1060”, a new residential area.

Two Algoa Bus Company buses were damaged when protesters threw stones at them, while a third was torched during the Stanford Road protest.

Vastrap is an informal settlement in Booysen Park congested with shacks without toilets. Residents still use the old bucket toilet system.

In wet weather, the shacks get flooded and residents have to seek shelter at a community hall.

Two weeks ago – after engagements with the municipality and Human Settlements officials – it was agreed that the residents should come up with a list of about 500 families who would be relocated to 1060.

The protesters said they were pleased when they heard about the relocation as they believed their lives were going to change for the better.

“Only 102 families were relocated before Ward 41 councillor Mbongeni Bungane stopped the relocations,” community leader Zolani Dastile claimed.

“That is what angered the community members, who are forced to live under inhumane conditions. It was agreed that only 946 families would remain in Vastrap.”

It is not yet known why the relocations were stopped prematurely.

The protesters prevented residents and children from going to work or school.

-Yoliswa Sobuwa