Roodepoort under siege
Residents resort to private security services for protection.
The tension in Roodepoort is mounting.
As early as 6am traffic on Ontdekkers Road was severely congested as the artery towards Johannesburg CBD was pockmarked with blue lights and police vehicles.
Law-enforcement agencies such as SAPS, JMPD and the Gauteng Traffic Department were patrolling main taxi routes, stopping and searching taxis randomly. Although an inconvenience for other commuters, it is obvious that police are taking the taxi violence of 10 September seriously. To intensify matters another taxi driver was shot and killed in Johannesburg and it is speculated that the incident relates to local taxi violence that stems from a war between Dobsonville Roodepoort Leratong Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) and Greater Krugersdorp Taxi Association (GKTA).
Contributing to the tension is the anticipation, of especially businesses, of more chaos from striking National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) members who started terrorising businesses and members of public on 10 September, the second day of this union’s strike action. This follows Numsa members intimidating and assaulting civilians and other workers who did not actively support their industrial action. The violence was directed also at the Record journalist.
This morning, 11 September, service stations being guarded heavily by armed security guards is a common sight. Many businesses had to close shop on 10 September to protect their employees and property.
