A joint deployment made up of the SAPS and the JMPD, has since the morning of 8 September 2019, been closely monitoring Jeppestown and surrounding areas following notices of a gathering to be addressed by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Jeppestown.
A crowd of about 1200 hostel residents gathered at Murray Park and shortly into the address by Prince Buthelezi, a splinter group disrupted the address and left before proceedings were concluded.
Incidents of attacks on businesses have since been reported in parts of the CBD where police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to restrain the growing crowd who attempted to move through the CBD via corner Bree and Twist Streets.
Many shops are currently closed while police remain on high alert to ensure minimum damages and criminality.
In the meantime, police remain on the ground and on high alert to ensure the safety of church-goers, shoppers and commuters who were caught up in the mayhem. Police have now cautioned law abiding citizens to stay away from the Jeppestown area, MTN taxi rank and shops in the CBD until calm has been restored. This is to ensure that innocent people do not find themselves either injured or arrested unnecessarily.
At this stage, no injuries and no arrests have been reported.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
