Rubber bullets, teargas used on Kuyga protesters

File picture

File picture

Published May 10, 2017

Share

Port Elizabeth – Chaos erupted outside the Department of Education offices - as well as in the Kuyga area – in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday when police had use stun grenades and teargas to disperse protesters during mass protest action.

Police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, said about 2 000 protesters gathered in Kuyga on Wednesday morning. Public Order police fired rubber bullets and used water canyons to disperse the crowd.

The protesters had gathered in Kuyga for a second day to air their grievances around scholar transport before traveling in minibus taxis to the department's offices in Sidwell.

In recent days, community members have protested against the department's decision to do away with scholar transport for learners in the area.

Janse Van Rensburg said initially it was agreed that four taxis would travel to the department's offices in Sidwell, but 14 taxis transporting protesters ended up going.

After protesters arrived outside the department's offices, chaos erupted as people began jumping over the fence and damaged property.

"When problems erupted, members of the Public Order Policing Unit used stun grenades, rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the protesters," she said.

Protesters had since made their way back to Kuyga. Janse Van Rensburg could not immediately confirm any arrests.

African News Agency

Related Topics: