City on alert after service delivery protest

By Ofentse Mokae
02 October 2009

The City of Cape Town says it is keeping a close on the circumstances along Lansdowne road.

This follows violent protests over the past few months.

Residents of Khayelitsha living in BT section of Site C , are demanding to be relocated to proper homes on services land.

The city mayoral committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith says they are working hard to keep the situation under control.

“The city has to ensure that we keep Lansdowne road open, as it is the major arterial route, it is an important route for buses and taxis and closure to will result in a major inconvenience,” councilor Smith said.

Smith says this is also will cause serious problems as the alternative route is undergoing roadworks.

Earlier this week city officials, flanked by metro police officers, cleared the road.

This came after it had been barricaded by angry residents for nearly a month.

Smith said the dissent residents are doing themselves and their neighbours a disservice by blocking the roads.