Township protests flare up again in S.Africa

By Alison Raymond

STANDERTON, South Africa (Reuters) - South African police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Tuesday, wounding several protesters demanding better sanitation, electricity and housing in impoverished black townships.

Tyres burned and rubbish littered the streets of Standerton, 150 km (90 miles) south-east of Johannesburg, and shops were closed after thousands of people marched on the municipal offices in the town from nearby Sakhile township.

Police fired shots after the protesters, chanting "only (President Jacob) Zuma can stop us now", tried to overturn a car. A police helicopter circled as marchers started to disperse but the situation remained tense.

Widespread frustration over poor infrastructure in townships has prompted sporadic protests since elections in April and increased pressure on Zuma to deliver on campaign promises to better the lives of the millions of black South Africans who are still living in poverty 15 years after the end of apartheid.

"A lot of things are not changing, we don't see any changes. We thought Zuma could do better, so now we have to step up (our protests)... we are thinking of the future of our children," said Amanda Jones, who said she was protesting against the lack of water and power in Sakhile township.

The latest eruption in Standerton, in the country's Mpumalanga province, began late last month. Scores of protesters have been arrested in Standerton and other townships in the past two days, local media reported.

SOUTH AFRICA'S IMAGE DENTED

The wave of protests so far this year followed attacks on foreigners last year that killed 62 people and dented South Africa's image less than a year before it hosts the soccer World Cup.

Government spending has been constrained by the fall-out from the global financial crisis and South Africa's first recession in 17 years. The national Treasury has said tax revenues will fall short by at least 70 billion rand this year.

Zuma's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said he had no plans to meet the protesters and that people with grievances should call a phone line set up to contact the president.

"There are avenues available to communities to engage government on challenges they face in service delivery and we encourage communities to use the presidential hotline," he said.

Zuma's hotline, launched last month, has been swamped with calls and many people have been unable to get through.

SAFM radio reported protesters at Siyathuthuka -- another township in Mpumalanga -- had burned a municipal building while tension was high at Palm Ridge, east of Johannesburg, with a heavy police presence after protests turned violent on Monday.

Zuma has promised to ease inequalities Africa's biggest economy but has said the government has fallen short in meeting demands for better basic services like water, electricity, health care and education.

Analysts said Zuma's government will find it difficult to meet the raised demands in the current economic climate.

"There was an expectation that things would improve for the working class and for the lower income groups. But this is not happening," said Nel Marais, political analyst at Executive Research Association.

"The economy is simply not performing well enough to make the living conditions of these people easier. I think under those circumstances it is relatively easy for local leaders to exploit the situation and mobilise the people."