Durban - A man died and four others were injured in a service delivery protest in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban on Thursday, said KwaZulu-Natal police.
Captain Thulani Zwane said the protest started at the intersection of Umgeni and Alpine roads early on Thursday morning.
“When protesters were barricading the road with burning tyres and rocks, a car with two passengers and a driver drove towards them, knocking three people down,” he said.
Zwane said they were critically injured and were taken to hospital. One died on arrival.
“Protesters assaulted the driver and his son. They were also taken to hospital,” he said.
Police used rubber bullets and pepper spray when residents refused to disperse. They were demanding that electricity be supplied to the area and stoned passing cars, he said.
Three people were arrested and charged with public violence. They would appear soon in the Durban Magistrate's Court.
Zwane said the road had been cleared, but that police were still keeping watch. - Sapa