Durban – Police and xenophobic protesters clashed in central Durban at the same time that a peace march against xenophobia was reaching its conclusion on Thursday afternoon.
As speakers delivered their speeches police cars went roaring up Anton Lembede Street (previously Smith) street to Joe Slovo (previously Field) street.
Police used stun grenades and teargas at the corner of Joe Slovo and Dr Pixley KaSeme streets to disperse a crowd of local protesters.
A police officer said the crowd had been chanting that foreigners needed to go home.
Further running battles ensued between Joe Slovo and Joseph Nduli (Russell) streets with a water cannon and more stun grenades being used to chase small groups.
A police officer was seen using pepper spray on some protesters while a group of eThekwini Metro Police officers used rubber bullets to disperse another crowd into a cemetery on Dr Pixley KaSeme street.
One protester was arrested during that clash and put into a police van.
Journalists and photographers followed police up and down the top end of Dr Pixley KaSeme street about 800 metres away from where the anti-xenophobic speeches were taking place.
Minibus taxis started pulling out of the rank next to the cemetery. A taxi rank supervisor could be seen complaining bitterly to police that his day’s business was being ruined.
Most shops and businesses were shuttered before the march. Afterwards all were closed.
News24
