Two people have died and another sustained injury following protest by hostel residents in Diepkloof, Soweto on Monday.

Residents blockaded the highways and Chris Hani Road with burning tyres and rocks causing massive morning peak-hour traffic. They are protesting over lack of housing and poor sanitation issues. A delivery truck carrying canned fish was looted in the process.

Tension was high at the Diepkloof hostel in Soweto on Monday morning.

What began as a service delivery related protest, resulted in the tragic deaths of two people including a bystander. Residents have been complaining about the poor state of the hostel. They say a piece of land earmarked for housing development has now been allocated to another party without their knowledge.

“Today the residents are very angry, we understand that there’s a person who has bought the land that we have been occupying for years. a lot of projects have been on a stand still since September last year. Now, they want to know who is selling their land. And what is the government saying about this issue,” says Nduna Sibonelo Khoza.

Chaos ensued during the protest after a delivery truck entered the hostel. As the protesting residents chased it and started pelting it with rocks, the truck driver lost control of the vehicle hitting an electricity pylon.

“It’s annoying really, because we don’t know why the driver of the truck came towards the hostel side. Because we have the freeway up there, he is wrong. He has damaged the electricity, injured the young lady and killed the innocent man. We look after for that company; we want to do something. They must be punished; he has done bad damage here. We are protesting for service delivery, not to lose the souls,” says resident Sanele Msibi.

Police have opened a case of public violence.

“For now, we have opened a case of public violence but we have got our detectives on the scene now that have taken over the investigation. So, we might add more charges, but for now it’s a public violence. We are going to obtain a statement from the driver who ran over these people,” says police spokesperson Mavela Masondo.

Relative calm has since been restored.

Video: Two dead in violent service delivery protest in Diepkloof