KwaZulu-Natal - Police prevented DA leader Helen Zille and her entourage from approaching President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead on Sunday.
Zille was told she could not pass the police roadblock as there were ANC supporters gathered on the road to Zuma's home.
She said the party had permission to gather on a public road outside a school opposite Zuma's home, but police refused to let her pass, saying they wanted to prevent violence.
Several cars carrying ANC supporters passed by on a side road. They carried sticks and sang Dubhula iBhunu (Shoot the Boer).
When Zille asked officers why those cars were allowed to pass, she was told they would open a case against the organisers of the ANC march.
About 700m from where the Democratic Alliance was stopped, police in riot gear prevented ANC supporters from advancing. Officers formed a human chain across the road, outside Zuma's residence, in the village of KwaNxamalala.
SABC news reported that a man was arrested in possession of an unlicensed rifle and handgun after a shot was fired into the air during a demonstration by ANC supporters. Several ANC members lay down in the road in front of the group of protesters.
Police had several armoured Nyala personnel carriers, two trucks with water canons, and a helicopter in the area.
The DA intended visiting Zuma's private residence, where an upgrade, reportedly costing over R200 million, and funded with taxpayers' money, was in progress. - Sapa