Rubber bullets used to disperse Protea Glen protesters

Police have fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of protestors in Protea Glen near Soweto on Monday. The situation is tense.

Tensions erupted on Sunday after a group of people attempted to illegally invade a piece of land. Residents living nearby complained that the illegal occupation will devalue their properties.

Police have been forced to use stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds that have been barricading the roads with burning tyres and rocks.

“They have been bringing more tyres to burn in the road. The situation is still tense. We have got no reports of injuries or arrests but so far police will continue to monitor the situation,” says Gauteng police spokesperson Kay Makhubele.

The Gauteng Human Settlements Department says it will engage with the protesting communities to try and quell the situation.

“It’s a private land but its located within the Rand West Municipality.  As government we want to encourage the municipality to work with the land owner in terms of protecting the land. We will continue to ensure we quell the situation,” says the Department’s Keith Khoza. Click below for more on the story: