Provincial leadership to assess situation in Durban CBD
Leaders from the province and the South African Police Minister will assess the situation in Durban following yesterday's violent outbreak.
The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, accompanied by the KZN Premier Thami Ntuli, the Police Commissioner of KZN Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who is also the National Project Leader for Organised Crime, and the acting Provincial Commissioner of KZN Major General Phumelele Makoba, are currently in Durban CBD to assess the current situation and the public order in and around Durban.
The walk about/drive-about will follow a comprehensive operational meeting taking place at the Provincial Police Headquarters.
Also read: 14 cars burnt in violent CBD anti-illegal immigration protest
The visit comes after violent protests broke out in the CBD yesterday (October 8). South Africans in Durban and other parts of the country gathered in protest to express their dissatisfaction with a Constitutional Court ruling which indicated that asylum seekers were eligible to apply for asylum and could not be deported without full access to the asylum system, in addition to other judgments.
The protests resulted in the subsequent closure of many businesses (majority of which are owned by foreign nationals) along Durban’s Dr Pixley KaSeme Street. A building, warehouse and 14 vehicles were set ablaze by an angry mob.
According to SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshuinda, reports indicated that a group was marching against Gender Based-Violence in the Durban CBD and when they were done marching, they reportedly walked down Dr Pixley KaSeme Street to join the March and March group, which was marching at the Home Affairs offices.
“Information at this stage suggests that they were walking, one of them was assaulted by a foreign national and his leg was broken. It is not clear what sparked the alleged assault. The group became angry and violence erupted.”
Three foreign nationals were arrested in that chaos.
