Residents and motorists were rocked in the early hours of Friday morning as a protest for land encroachment caused heavy traffic in both directions on Marlboro Drive.
Using rocks and burning tyres protesters managed to block the road, as motorists were advised to use alternative routes.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police department (JMPD) spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said, “The protest started before 6am, the road was blocked with burning tyres and rocks, blocking both directions of Marlboro Drive.”
Our sister publication, The Citizen reported that the protest turned violent after protesters were shot with rubber bullets allegedly by the JMPD.
However, Minnaar could not confirm these reports even though there were reports that show the contrary.
@HermanMashaba @MichaelSun168 @EWNTraffic @ewnreporter
@ewnupdates @AsktheChiefJMPD
Resident of Marlboro shot at the protest,by JMPD
We need intervention in Marlboro.
Help help help pic.twitter.com/rdZYlUwahs— AHMED ISMAIL (@AGHIES) February 8, 2019
He said, “The situation is normal but there is still debris from the burning tyres along the road.”
The protesters are from Kelvin, the reason for the protest was the encroachment of informal settlements onto their land, Minnaar added.
https://twitter.com/TrafficSA/status/1093727549455323136
Protesters have blockaded Marlboro Drive JHB. pic.twitter.com/ar3s5ygQwo
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 8, 2019
Marlboro Drive JHB. Protest over land. pic.twitter.com/Yixln3yskI
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 8, 2019
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