Cars burnt at panel beater during Durban protests

6 June 2016

Durban - Several vehicles at a panel beater on North Coast Road, near Sea Cow Lake in Durban, were burnt during violent protests on Monday morning.

People who were not nominated as councillors by their political parties were apparently behind the civil unrest that blocked major routes in Durban.

Earlier, protesters dragged a few vehicles on to North Coast Road, and the fire spread to the panel beater, destroying a number of vehicles.

A man in his thirties was also in a serious condition after he was shot in the stomach during the protests.

Marshall Security medics and Netcare 911 paramedics treated him at the roadside, while police protected them. Officers used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

The man was later taken to hospital. The reason for the shooting was still unclear.

The protesters stationed themselves on North Coast Road, however, after their leaders held lengthy meetings with police, they decided to return to their homes.

A group of people attacked a 61-year-old man who was on his way to work in the morning. Bonginkosi Shange, who had a gash in his forehead, said the group had stolen his cellphone.

Pupils from nearby Parkhill Secondary School were in the area. One teacher, who did not want to be named, told News24 that the school had not officially been closed.

"Some parents, who were bringing their children, turned back, while with those children who managed to get to school, some of their parents had come to pick them up. But school hasn't officially closed, the teachers are still here."

The eThekwini Municipality said investigations had revealed that the protest was of a political nature, and was not service delivery related.

City spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said Metro Police, Disaster Management and Operation Sukuma Sakhe/Rapid Response officials were at the affected areas.

"They are on the ground to collect information from protesting residents."

"In the run up to the local government elections, [the] mayor acknowledges that people are free to exercise their constitutional rights by voicing their concerns. However, residents should do so in a peaceful manner, without damaging property, injuring law-abiding citizens or blockading roads, thus preventing others from going to school and work," Mthethwa said.

eThekwini Metro Police spokesperson Superintendent Sbonelo Mchunu said earlier that several groups of people had "made serious attempts" to close the N2, the Umgeni Connaught Interchange, and the M19.

They blocked roads with burning barricades and hurled stones at passing cars.

"We think that the people are being incited by individuals who were not nominated as councillors for their respective political parties. We are dealing with them," he said.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.