UNHAPPY VALLEY

A TINY baby had to be rushed to hospital after being caught in the chaos when angry Happy Valley residents clashed with police during a fiery protest on Monday.

The infant was among a klompie mense who were caught in the middle when Public Order Police (POP) used tear gas on the crowd in Blackheath.

The community began their protest from 3am, burning tyres and blocking roads, as they demanded answers over poor service delivery and a councillor they claim has “done nothing” for their community.

“There is a budget that is allocated for the taxi rank, but we do not have a taxi rank here and R2 million was allocated. [We were told] that they were going to spend that money on infrastructure,” said community leader Thomas Sokhahelelo.  

“There is also an issue of electricity in our community. Each and every house there is no electricity. There are only one or two houses that have electricity. Those people have been left in the dark for three months.

“The councillor would ask for references and we send those, but nothing has happened. We also have kids who are embarking on drugs because there are no facilities in the community. There is no multipurpose hall, no sports ground, and it has been more than 20 years that we do not have those facilities.”

Residents claim the councillor has been “playing duck and dive” and they are gatvol.

However, what shocked many was when news spread that a baby might have died after the protest turned violent.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, however, confirmed that those rumours were untrue, and that the baby was safely taken to hospital after falling ill overnight.

Pojie reported: “Information suggests that the mother and child were assisted by members who took them to the Eerste River Day Hospital for treatment between 6am and 7am after the mother approached them with her child who fell sick during the night.

“Emergency personnel could not access the area due to the risk of the protest, hence they [police] intervened and provided the required assistance, long before the unruly crowd was dispersed after 9am.”

He added that Mfuleni cops opened a public violence case and arrested two people after the protest turned ugly.

Members of POP and other law enforcement agencies were deployed in the area and restored calm after dispersing the unruly crowd who burned tyres and threw stones at passing motorists.

Pojie adds: “Two adult males were arrested on charges related to public violence and will appear in the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court once charged.

“Heightened visibility by POP and other integrated forces will be maintained until the area has been stabilised.”

The Daily Voice reached out to Ward Councillor Kariena Mare, but was told that her office will get back to us on Tuesday.