N12 – praag.org

Sowetans riot after power cuts

Residents of Orlando West, Soweto, who included pensioners, burnt tyres and protested against Eskom power cuts on Wednesday.

Johannesburg metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the Klipspruit Valley and Khumalo Roads were affected.

”The protesters started at around 7am and are obstructing these roads, we advise motorists to use alternative roads such as Chris Hani Baragwanath and Elias Motsoaledi Roads,” Minnaar said.

The protesters placed rocks and burning tyres on the roads, preventing traffic flow in the area.

On Monday, hundreds of residents in the neighbouring Diepkloof protested over housing, obstructing the area between Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and the N12.

Police hunt for N12 brick-thrower

The police are searching for a man who seriously injured two people by throwing bricks at their cars on the N12 in the Oakdene and Glenvista area.

The Joburg metro police department (JMPD) and the SAPS are working together to bring the suspect to book.

JMPD spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar told The Star on Tuesday that officers will continuously monitor that section of the highway where the man is believed to operate.

“Officers will monitor the bridge between the Kliprivier and Comaro Road offramp. The JMPD is working closely with the SAPS,” he said.

The man is believed to stand on the side of the N12 near the Glen Shopping Centre and throw bricks at passing motorists.

Darrel Badenhorst, whose girlfriend Marionette Swab was injured by a brick thrown into his car, saw the man on the side of the road before his car was hit.

Badenhorst and Swab were driving from Joburg to Boksburg on Thursday when he saw the man pick up a brick.

“The man was standing on the left-hand side of the road and I was driving in the middle lane when the brick struck my car. It went through the passenger window and hit my girlfriend on the head.”

The black man, who Badenhorst described as tall, slender and middle-aged, did not move from the side of the road after he threw the brick.

Badenhorst said he wanted to reverse his car and question his actions, but his girlfriend was unconscious and was bleeding from the head.

Doctors were going to do more brain scans on Tuesday to see if they could bring her out of the coma.

Meanwhile, the family of Caden, are praying for his recovery.

The 8-year-old’s father, Justin Slabbert, said he, Caden and his daughter Eden, 11, were driving to their Benoni home when the same man threw a brick at their car from the side of the highway.

Caden was sitting in the passenger seat when the brick flew through his window.

“At that point, I heard a loud noise. I turned around to check up on my daughter, who was okay, but when I looked over at Caden, I saw him slumped over. He was bleeding from his head.”

He rushed to Union Hospital but spotted an ambulance on the way, which stopped to help Caden.

He was taken to the hospital, where he too remains in an induced coma.

Carnage near Alberton as runaway petrol tanker crashes into 45 cars

The N12 East has been blocked off at the Comaro Street offramp after a petrol tanker crashed into scores of vehicles in Alberton, south-east of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg metro police chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Tuesday: “Motorists are advised to use the M1, M2, or use Xavier Street or Klipriver Road as exit routes in order to avoid the traffic congestion.”

Paramedics earlier revised the number of people injured in the accident.

Two people were killed and three people were critically injured.

Jarrod Denwood Bezuidenhout posted the following video of the scene on Facebook.

“Two patients were airlifted by the Netcare helicopter and one patient rushed to hospital for the urgent… care they required,” Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said in a statement.

“Seventeen people sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were transported to various hospitals after receiving medical treatment on scene.”

Two heavy trucks and 45 cars were involved in the accident.

“The road will remain obstructed for the scene to be cleared,” she said.

The accident happened on the N12 East near Voortrekker Road.

Prior to the updated information being released, ER24 said 54 people were injured in the accident.

“A petrol tanker had apparently lost control and collided with the multiple vehicles,” said spokesperson Russel Meiring in a statement.

“When ER24 paramedics, as well as other services, arrived on scene, they found multiple vehicles and car parts spread across the road.”

Paramedics began their assessment and found two people had been killed.

“The driver of the petrol tanker told paramedics that his brakes had apparently failed, causing him to collide with… multiple vehicles,” he said.

Black riots in Protea, outside Randfontein

Violent service delivery protests erupted on Wednesday in the Protea area outside Randfontein, said police.

Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela described the scene as chaotic as hundreds of community members from the Waterworks informal settlement clashed with police.

“Police are firing rubber bullets at the protesters. We also have our nyalas and choppers on the scene but these protesters are attacking police,” said Makhubela.

He said the demonstrators were throwing stones and rocks at police and motorists making their way past.

“The N12 road from Potchefstroom and Randfontein and Impala Road has been closed. We advise motorists to use alternative routes,” said Makhubela.

The protests began at around 2am. No arrests had been made.

Makhubela said no injuries had been reported thus far.

Earlier, the metro police department said the protests were in Zuurbekom.

Makhubela rectified the earlier reports. – Sapa

Protests errupt in Zuurbekom

Protests erupted in Zuurbekom, between Lenasia and Protea, in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, said metro police.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said protesters were burning tyres and had obstructed Impala road and the N12.

“This will affect traffic going to and from Westonaria and the Protea area,” said Minnaar.

He advised motorists to use alternative routes.

It was unclear what the protests were about. – Sapa