Govt vehicles torched as houses demolished

Violent clashes broke out between Emalahleni municipality law enforcement officers and the residents of Springvalley informal settlement in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

- Masoka Dube

The Mpumalanga municipality's law enforcement officers and the police reportedly arrived in the area unannounced and started demolishing dwellings.

During the clashes, two municipal officials were injured and two government vehicles were torched.

Residents said yesterday that since their parents settled in the area, there had been no evictions nor had houses been demolished.

Luleka Nxongo, a community leader and a local ward committee member, said the municipality started the demolitions three weeks ago but stopped after the confrontation on Wednesday.