Two dead, one critical as Diepkloof protests turn violent

Violent protest in Diepkloof

2 minutes

Police have confirmed that two people died and one person was seriously injured during violent protests in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Monday.

Protesting residents looted a delivery truck that was passing through the area on its way to deliver canned fish.

Reports say the truck driver ran over two of the people, killing one, as he tried to avoid the protesters. In another incident earlier, the third person died after being hit by a car.

Residents are demanding improved delivery of basic services, such as water and sanitation. This has resulted in traffic congestion in the area.

Reports of looting of trucks in and around Diepkloof in Soweto have emerged. The Johannesburg Metro Police department has advised motorists to expect severe traffic disruptions due to protest action in the area. pic.twitter.com/nAcYvmwEUr

— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 19, 2025

Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says, “So far we’ve got two people who are confirmed dead. The information that we got is that as they were protesting in the early hours of this morning, around about five o’clock, one of the protestors was run over by a car on the freeway. And that person was taken to hospital. So, we received a report that he was certified dead on arrival at the hospital. The second incident, I just spoke to the driver and what he’s saying is that as he was trying to move out of the hostel, he ran over two people, which is a male and a female.”

Situation in Diepkloof escalated with reports of looting and a fatality