Police have fired rubber bullets to disperse protesting residents of Majwemasweu in Brandfort in the Free State. Residents barricaded the R30 leading to Welkom and Bloemfontein.
The area has been without water for three weeks. Smoke from burning tyres and rubble is hovering over the sprawling township.
Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was banished in the area in 1977. It has been three weeks since residents saw running water – and now their despair has turned into anger.
They have taken to the streets, demanding to be heard.
The protest started at Monamodi Primary School where newly appointed Premier Sisi Ntombela was supposed to hand out sanitary towels to impoverished girls.
Angry learners turned her away demanding their most basic need, water. The SABC News team has witnessed at least five people being taken into police custody.
Arrests are continuing and school activities have come to a halt.
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