Eight arrested during N1 protest
Eight protestors were arrested for public violence on the N1 south in Midrand on Tuesday afternoon, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has confirmed.
The protestors were part of a group of workers contracted by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).
JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said: "Protestors blocked the road, refused to disperse and threw officers with stones."
Officers fired rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Minnaar confirmed five people were injured.
The protestors were making their way back to New Road in Midrand when they clashed with authorities.
Satawu spokesperson Zanele Sabela said: "These are the same officers we were with all day and who were cordial towards us. We cannot understand why this could not have ended peacefully."
Workers, who are contracted to manage accident scenes, marched to Sanral's offices in Midrand bringing traffic on the N1 north to a complete standstill on Tuesday morning.
Striking workers are demanding a salary increase and added benefits.
According to the workers they haven't received a salary increase in four years.
Workers protested outside the Sanral offices, barricading the road leading to the offices with stones and burning tyres.
Workers insisted they be allowed to hand over a memorandum to Sanral management.
Sabela, however, said an interdict did not allow protestors to enter the premises.
