Violent land occupation protests increasing in Cape Town
Protests in Blackheath and Strand cause severe disruptions and volatility in some areas of the city
Violent protests related to land are increasing in Cape Town ahead of the elections in May. The metro disclosed on Thursday that it had recorded 21 incidents of protest action in the first few days of April. This follows 76 recorded incidents in March, which is an increase from 24 in February. This week, protest action in Blackheath and Strand caused severe disruptions and volatility in some areas of the city, putting the lives of members of the public at risk and negatively affecting the city’s ability to deliver services. In Khayelitsha, a number of main roads have been closed to traffic as a result of protest action, the city said. “Many of the protests are related to attempted land invasions and the actions of city law enforcement agencies, supported by the South African Police Service, to ensure that the ongoing attempts to invade city-owned land are not successful,” said Malusi Booi, the city’s mayoral committee member for human settlements. The SA Police Service (SAPS) recent...
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