SOUTH AFRICA: POLICE FIRE AT SQUATTERS IN TOWNSHIP AFTER THEY REFUSE TO MOVE FROM LAND MARKED FOR REBUILDING

Record ID: 460791

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: POLICE FIRE AT SQUATTERS IN TOWNSHIP AFTER THEY REFUSE TO MOVE FROM LAND MARKED FOR REBUILDING
  • Date: 6th May 1996
  • Summary: ALEXANDRA TOWNSHIP, OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, (MAY 6, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV ARMED POLICE FACING PROTESTING SQUATTERS ON ROAD 0.04 2. SLV ARMED POLICE, PROTESTERS SEEN THROUGH BARBED WIRE 0.14 3. LV DEMONSTRATORS SITTING ON GROUND, ARMED POLICE 0.22 4. SLV SOUTH AFRICAN SOLDIERS ON TRUCK 0.28 5. GV DEMOLITION WORKERS, BULLDOZER (2 SHOTS) 0.36 6. SLV PEOPLE TRYING TO RETRIEVE BUILDING MATERIALS FROM TRUCK/ RIOT POLICE MOVE THEM AWAY, PROTESTORS STOP TRUCK 0.50 7. LV'S SQUATTERS IN FRONT OF TRUCK, ON TRUCK, THROWING BUILDING MATERIAL ON THE GROUND 1.04 8. MV POLICE THROWS GRENADE 1.24 9. SLV POLICE FIRING SHOTGUNS 1.31 10. LV POLICE WITH ARRESTED MEN ON GROUND 1.35 11. SLV POLICE CLEAROUT SQUATTERS HUT 1.40 12. CU POLICEMAN WITH SHOTGUN 1.47 13. SLV POLICE AND SQUATTERS STANDOFF SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER 1.58 14. LV GRASS BURNING AROUND POLICE VEHICLE 2.01 15. LV SQUATTERS SHACK PULLED DOWN, SQUATTERS ARRESTED (6 SHOTS) 2.38 16. GV FIRES 2.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 21st May 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ALEXANDRA TOWNSHIP, OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City:
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVAA4GEUY1K9FE8HYWI3B92PW0VH
  • Story Text: - INTRO: Police fired buckshot at squatters and tore down their ramshackle homes in Alexandra township on Monday (May 6) after they refused to move off land which has been allocated for residential building.

    -------------------------------------------------------- Scuffles broke out when police tried to stop squatters retrieving belongings from the destroyed remains of their demolished homes. Police used stun grenades to disperse people who ran for cover.

    Several people were injured and at least one man was arrested.

    Police searched shacks before the machines moved in and tore down the tin shelters.

    There are about 1,000 families who remain on the Far East bank of Alexandra after the deadline for voluntary relocation to another site north of Johannesburg expired last week on Friday.

    These families refuse to move, saying they will be too far away from their places of work and schools and have not had enough time to make alternative arrangements.

    But the local sheriff has been authorised to carry out an eviction order and the local council insists the squatters have been given adequate warnings.

    Some of the families have been living at the squatter camp in Alexandra for more than 10 years.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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