The streets in downtown Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon bared testimony to the anarchy caused by unruly ANC Youth League supporters earlier in the day.
As police started packing their riot gear away, an officer told reporters that the crowd would definitely disperse in due course.
“They won't stay here tonight,” an officer said.
Broken glass, bricks and rubbish lined Sauer and Simmonds streets, while barbed wire set up around some buildings was taken down and a medical tent set up earlier was deflated.
Rudi Pretorius of emergency services said that personnel treated a number of people who were pelted with stones during the day.
This included a police officer and photographer, who were hit in the back of their heads. A pedestrian was also knocked down and one man fell from a ledge, but was not injured badly.
As the sun began to set, a women was selling food to some supporters. This left empty polystyrene containers around her stall.
The majority of journalists who were earlier attacked in the day, had also left.
The calm from supporters came after ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema addressed crowds, calling for restraint and discipline.
Malema and youth league leadership are facing a disciplinary hearing at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, in the Johannesburg CBD..
His five co-accused are league spokesman Floyd Shivambu, league deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy Kenetswe Mosenogi and treasurer general Pule Mabe.
The youth league leadership face charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and sowing division in ANC ranks.
A group told reporters that they would be back on Wednesday, and would not leave until a decision from the disciplinary committee was made.
They told Sapa that if the outcome did not “come out the right way” they would make the country ungovernable. They threatened that South Africa would “become worse than Libya”.
The group blamed police for intimidating them, and defended their stone throwing.
“Don't we have a right to defend ourselves?” they asked.
“Zuma is out of line. He acts against Malema, but when Bheki Cele does something Zuma doesn't do anything.
“Bheki's boys need to go back to making love in the office,” they said.
“Don't you know Julius Malema is going to be the president of our country he has that spark.”
School children from Badirile Secondary School in Carletonville, were seen toyi-toying.
As journalists tried to make their way through the crowd, people groped them, shouting “We don't want journalists here”, “go back to Helen Zille” and “make way for the enemy”.
“They were squeezing my boobs and bum. I was like, dude, please...,” one female journalist said. Other said they had the same experience.
A small group were negotiating with police to leave them alone. As they walked away the group clapped saying “yes go away”.
No ANCYL leaders were seen after Malema addressed the crowds, and it was not certain if he had gone back into the hearing. eNews tweeted that Malema was being represented by Dali Mpofu, SABC’s former CEO.
Malema during his address warned his own supporters against attacking the media and the police.
“You cannot throw stones at journalists because journalists are just messengers... if you attack journalists, you will lose public sympathy,” he told a crowd at Beyers Naude Square, who were chanting “Juju! Juju!” and shouting, “the president!” and “the future of our country!”.
“The police is not your enemy. These are the people employed to protect you,” said Malema.
He said: “You must know who is the enemy”, after which the crowd started chanting “Zuma! Zuma!”.
Malema lectured his supporters that ANC alliance leaders needed to be respected, after a day of violent protests which saw the burning of t-shirts bearing Zuma's face and ANC flags.
“Don't burn the flag of the ANC. That is who we are... we cannot burn ourselves, especially the black, green and gold. You are here because you love the ANC. We must exercise restraint,” he said.
Malema said the ANC “will always be there”, but “individuals come and go”.
Rubber bullets and teargas were fired several times during the day at Malema supporters, who broke off pieces of concrete barriers, cut through yellow tape used to close off streets and set dustbins alight.
Shops shut their doors after rioters banged on windows and threw pieces of glass at them, while several banks in the city closed early.
Windows of some buildings in the area were smashed by stone-throwers. -
Sapa