Tensions remained high in Philippi East, Cape Town, on Monday morning following days of conflict between residents of neighbouring areas, which has resulted in the death of three men and property damage estimated at R20m.

Residents of Lower Crossroads were said to be unhappy with people from Marikana informal settlement, who were demanding services, said the city’s safety and security executive director Richard Bosman.

“Due to illegal connections, there are regular power outages and the people of Crossroads feel that they are having to pay for people in Marikana.”

He said violent protests between the two were difficult to manage because only the road Symphony Way separated them.

“Police have put barbed wire between them to separate them.”

Western Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut, said three men were killed in the conflict and a number of people injured.

The men, aged 28 to 32, were shot and killed in separate incidents on Saturday.

Traut said they could not yet say how many people had been arrested for public violence and arson.

Property damage

Vehicles and other property were set alight at the Klipfontein Solid Waste Management depot on Tuesday. What started out as a service delivery protest escalated to conflict between residents from Thursday until Saturday.

Bosman said total damage to property was estimated at around R20m.

Thirty shacks were burned down and some houses and flats also sustained damage.

He said no further incidents had been reported since Saturday.

Traut said the situation was tense but “under control at this stage”.

“Police deployments will remain in the area to maintain law and order until we are satisfied that the area has stabilised to normal.” News24