Durban - Protests closed two of Durban’s key highways during the peak rush hour traffic on Monday morning.
Police spokesman Major Shooz Magudulela said that protests closed of Durban’s N2 near the Lamontville township while another protest closed off the M19 highway near Reservoir Hills.
Magudulela said that at the M19 protest about 300 people from the informal settlement started gathering from about 2.30am and blocked the road with burning tyres and rocks.
He said police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters and that by mid-morning on Monday the highway was still closed with motorists being diverted to use alternative routes.
“The reason for the protest is unknown at this stage. No arrests have been made and no injuries were reported,” he said.
At the protests on the N2, two people were injured.
ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said that there was a collision between two cars on the N2 when the drivers tried to avoid burning tyres on the road.
“Initially paramedics were called to the scene after a collision occurred between two vehicles, when the drivers apparently tried to avoid the burning tyres. One person sustained moderate injuries and was treated on the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital,” said Vermaak.
According to Vermaak a policeman was then injured as he tried to avoid being hit by vehices after protesters started burning debris on a bridge.
“He fell off the side of the bridge and down an embankment. Paramedics found the official with fractures and several scrapes and bruises. He was treated on the scene and later transported to hospital.”
The cause of that protests was also not immediately known.
African News Agency