The protest took place near the Primrose Fire Station on Pretoria Road, and saw members of the local SAPS and community patrolling groups working together to calm the tension.<\/p>\n
Members from the Primrose Residents Against Crime (PRAC) claim the fire department would not come out and assist in riot control or put out the burning tyres.<\/p>
PRAC patroller John Seaman said, \u201cPRAC patrollers quickly assessed the situation and set up a roadblocks to redirect traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiot control was eventually dispatched and the protesters went home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe then proceeded to put out the burning tyres, without the help of the fire department.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst putting out the fire, patrollers had stones thrown at them.\u201d<\/p>\n A few hours later, a fire broke out within the Maukase informal settlement.<\/p>\n Seaman claims Makause residents stole fire equipment from firefighters and even stripped one of the trucks.<\/p>\n The GCN spoke to William Ntladi, the media liaison for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), who explained that DEMS received a call from the Makause informal settlement claiming a number of shacks were on fire.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, the fire engine dispatched to the settlement was damaged by members of the community.<\/p>\n \u201cHoses were pulled from the fire engine, nozzles cut off and the perpetrators disappeared from the scene,\u201d said Ntladi.<\/p>\n This setback hampered firefighters in their efforts to fight the blaze and a large number of shacks were destroyed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe interference of the community members on scene had a detrimental effect.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to pull the vehicle out and get another sizeable one to drive through the informal settlement to the scene of fire.<\/p>\n \u201cInitial reports showed 149 shacks were destroyed and 168 community members affected, relief aids in the way of shelter, food and blankets were offered to those affected,\u201d Ntladi said.<\/p>\n In response to the claims made by PRAC, Ntladi said, \u201cDEMS is a professional department with obligations to accomplish.<\/p>\n \u201cResponding to calls is our pre-requisite and with the objective of preserving lives and property.\u201d<\/p>\n Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose police, confirmed the riot earlier in the evening followed an EMPD operation in the informal settlement.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile community members of the Makause informal settlement were burning tyres along Pretoria Road they were not aware that a fire was helping itself to their belongings nearby,\u201d Maome said.<\/p>\n \u201cOver a hundred shacks were destroyed and one life was lost as a result of the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n The cause of the fire is still undetermined and investigations are underway.<\/p>\n Other articles you may be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>\n Couple left devastated after early morning fire destroys home<\/a><\/p>\n Emergency Services respond to CPF\u2019s claims<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Members](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2015\/10\/40GCNCRIMERIOTLH2_67876.jpg\")
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