Residents thought they had hit a jackpot when two trucks, they thought were transporting foodstuff, got stuck in traffic congestion on the N1 and Chris Hani Road in Soweto during a community protest. Residents of Diepkloof Hostel in Soweto started looting both trucks, but one was transporting dangerous explosives. But without reading the labels, they also looted the explosives assuming it was polony.
VIOLENT PROTESTS
The residents of Diepkloof Hostel took to the streets yesterday morning demanding houses, electricity and water. They barricaded the N1 freeway with rocks, burning tyres and bringing the highway to a complete standstill. JMPD officers had to redirect frustrated motorists to Golden Highway, Ben Naude Drive, Rand Show Road and Soweto Highway.
⚠️ Traffic Advisory ⚠️
— Jo'burg Metro Police Department - JMPD (@JoburgMPD) June 14, 2023
The N12 & N1 Freeway at the Diepkloof I/C has been reopened for traffic to flow, this is following an earlier closure due to protest action, Chris Hani Rd has also been reopened. Protesting crowds have been dispersed. #JHBTraffic #JoburgRoadSafety pic.twitter.com/vTDuKHV0lt
RECOVERING STOLEN ITEMS
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said in a statement that the protesters stopped and looted two trucks that were loaded with groceries and explosives before running back into the hostel. "Members of SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police Department, Public Order Police, National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team, K-9, Local Criminal Record Centre, Bomb-Disposal, District Visible Policing, and Airwing responded swiftly to recover the looted goods, especially the explosives due to the danger that they posed to the residents. A search was conducted at the hostel, with the help of community leaders (Izinduna)," he said.
DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVES
He said the police's explosives unit confirmed that the explosives were dangerous and could explode. "We received information that the looted explosives are commercial explosives used in the mines. We suspect that the community was not aware because from a distance they look like polony," Masondo said. He added that some residents might not have surrendered all the explosives and urged them to hand them to authorities as soon as possible. "The truck driver said the items we got here were not all that were taken. These are dangerous. It is dangerous to keep these explosives in the hostel. The driver said they could explode. We appeal to the community to bring them to us," he told News24. Masondo said the police opened a case of public violence and that .no arrests have been made yet.
#sapsGP Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Elias Mawela has commended Law Enforcement Agencies that responded swiftly to recover the explosives that were looted during service delivery protest in Soweto on Wednesday, 14 June 2023. #ProtestAction MLhttps://t.co/fatpLpmEG4 pic.twitter.com/SfBYuOBQoK
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 14, 2023
