Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba says there is no quick fix to the service delivery backlogs that have sparked violent protests in the city. "We recognise the frustrations of this community‚ following years of mismanagement and neglect. We hear their pleas for dignified housing and economic opportunities‚" he said in a statement on Wednesday. Residents barricaded roads and there were running battles with police in and around Eldorado Park and Ennerdale during violent protests on Tuesday. Police arrested at least 50 people as shops and convenience stores at petrol stations were looted. Mashaba‚ who met law enforcement authorities on Tuesday evening‚ blamed "criminal elements" for escalating the violence. "Tragically‚ the legitimate concerns of the community have become hijacked by criminal elements who would seek to use the protests for their own ends. A number of shops have been looted and businesses negatively affected‚" he said. The provincial leadership of the police and the Joh...
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