10 arrested in Pretoria protest
Ten foreign nationals were arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property during an illegal protest outside the Embassy of Democratic Republic of Congo in Arcadia on Wednesday, police said.
The fire damaged the back of the vehicle, and no injuries were reported.
Gauteng provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Kay Makhubela, said the reason for the violent protest was still unknown and police investigations were under way.
According to unconfirmed reports, the protesters demanded that the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, step down.
“Protesters dispersed and ran away when they saw more police arrive on the scene. Police were able to arrest some of them,” Makhubela said.
Makhubela added police would also check if the protesters were all legally in the country.
The arrested protesters were detained at Sunnyside Police Station and are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court soon.
In a separate incident, 24 people were arrested last October after protests in Tongaat, north of Durban.
The protests were allegedly sparked by the deaths of a teenager, and two men who were electrocuted.
Protesters reportedly converged at the eThekwini Municipality offices in Tongaat and demanded to meet the mayor, James Nxumalo.
The 24 had later faced charges of public violence, police said in a statement.
– Caxton News Service
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