Violence erupts as protesters clash with refugees in Durban
Police deployed a stun grenade after tensions between March and March protesters and refugees erupted into violent clashes.
CHE Guevara Road descended into violent chaos this morning (September 3) after members of March and March clashed with the refugees who are living outside the Durban Refugee Reception Centre.
The confrontation stemmed from a March and March clean-up campaign which was meant to begin at King Dinizulu Park. The group of no more than 200 people, armed with brooms and rakes, moved towards Che Guevara Road where police were already deployed to monitor the situation at the centre where 250 refugees are awaiting government assistance to a temporary shelter.
Tensions escalated as March and March members approached the area. According to witnesses, some protesters moved towards the refugees’ belongings and allegedly grabbed items and threw them.
The situation quickly deteriorated, with scuffles breaking out between protesters and refugees. Police responded by deploying a stun grenade in an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Also Read: March and March pickets SADC Summit
As the confrontation intensified, missiles were reportedly thrown from both sides, prompting police to call in additional officers to reinforce the deployment.
March and March leader Lindani Xulu was injured during a skirmish as police attempted to intervene and separate those involved.
Officers subsequently moved into the centre of the crowd as further clashes broke out.
Speaking after the incident, Xulu said he wanted the person he alleged had attacked him to be arrested and criticised police for what he described as protecting the refugees.
“I wanted the person that attacked me to be arrested and police to stop protecting illegal immigrants. We want to clean our city and our country which they are dirtying by living on the street,” said Xulu.
Police remained at the scene as tensions continued, with officers working to prevent further confrontations between the protesters and refugees. An attempt to stop the clean from continuing was blocked by March and March members as more violent clashes erupted with ambulances being called to the scene.
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