The R55 road remained blocked on Wednesday afternoon, even though the situation was calm, theTshwane metro police said.
This comes after angry protesters barricaded an intersection in Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion on Wednesday morning protesting against the mismanagement of the allocating of housing and poor service delivery.
Police maintained high visibility at the intersection on the R55 the R562 road in Olievenhoutbosch.
Protesters were in arms since the early hours of Wednesday morning against the issuing of houses to people that lived outside the area.
Community leader Kenneth Masha said residents were unhappy that people from an informal settlement near Laudium Centurion were being relocated to houses that were meant for the Mooiplaats community.
“This was not the first mass action, but the mayor refuses to take our pleas seriously,” said Masha.
Whilst in negotiations with police at the intersection, Masha said mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa was voted into his position by the Olivenhoutbosch community and all they asked for was accountability.
Tensions rose when more protestors demanded the mayor be accountable and to stop issuing empty promises.
Makhosini Nkosi, another community representative said Ramokgopa had promised to address them on the 9 November but he did not pitch.
Later in the afternoon, more tyres were seen delivered from a white bakkie with the intention to barricade more of the R55.
As protesters were offloading the tyres and stoning every vehicle attempting to cross the intersection, a police water cannon arrived and the volatile protesters were rattled.
Police arrested community leaders Masha and Nkosi and this aggravated protesters even further, spiking an uproar.
Stones, rocks and sticks flew through the air as protesters were angered by the arrest of their leaders.
The police canon opened fire, dispersing protesters from the intersection. This was followed by rubber bullets fired by police.
Protesters continued to stone police in retaliation.
No injuries were reported by police.
Motorists were advised to use alternative routes.
http://rekordcenturion.co.za/68298/r55-remains-closed-by-police/#StopWhiteGenocideInSA
