Joburg seeks urgent police intervention in the south
The City of Johannesburg has called for urgent police intervention in the south of the city.
This follows rising tensions in Lenasia and surrounding areas over the past week.
On Friday, the city’s metro police had their hands full after four protests erupted in several areas in the south, including Ennerdale, Pimville and Kliptown.
Residents were unhappy over a lack of housing and land invasions in the area.
Mayor Herman Mashaba's spokesperson Luyanda Mfeka says the metro police, with its limited public policing resources, cannot handle the situation alone and require the assistance of the police.
"The situation of the escalation of land occupation within the Lenesia area is getting out of control. Residents have reported that armed groups of land occupiers are firing shots at the homes of residents in the affected areas, with sounds of gunshots being heard throughout the night."
Mashaba has approached the provincial commissioner Elias Mawela with a request that police take control of the situation.
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