Violent protests in the spotlight
Violent service delivery protests and local governments' response to protest action by residents will come under the spotlight during a national seminar on Wednesday, hosted by the Institute for Security Studies.
With local government elections exactly two weeks away, violent protests have increased in recent weeks with residents voicing their anger at the lack of service delivery in various areas across the country.
The Institute's Lizette Lancaster said research shows that the number of protests have decreased but the percentage of those that became violent have increased.
"Grievances are perceived not to be taken seriously by government," Lancaster said.
She added that this often lead to communities feeling completely alienated and marginalised from democratic processes.
"This effectively leads to groups within a community resort to violence as frustration boils over," she said.
ALSO READ: Protest action causes traffic jam in Joburg
On Wednesday morning a group of residents of Riverlea in the South of Johannesburg took to the streets, barricading Main Reef road due to the lack of electricity in their area.
"The protests action is affecting traffic from the west and traffic is being diverted if you are heading to the City of Johannesburg," JMPD spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar told Jacaranda FM News.
Motorists have been advised to avoid Main Reef road going past Riverlea due to the protest action.
"There have been some reports of cars that were stoned in that area," Minnaar added.
JMPD said that traffic was being diverted to Robert Road.