Police helicopters hover overhead during protests in Pretoria. Photo by Nation Nyoka/News24
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COPS and people marching against immigrants were locked
in a tense standoff in the Pretoria CBD this morning, with stun grenades going
off near the Department of Home Affairs building.
A police helicopter hovered overhead and public order police officers weaved through the large crowd.
At one point, the group tried to push past the police.
Many in the crowd carried sticks, rods and other items.
One man said: "The foreigners have real guns. They are selling drugs and prostitution and the municipality is helping them. They must leave."
Some foreign nationals faced the group, shouting at them.
A group calling itself the Mamelodi Concerned Residents is leading the march to the Department of Home Affairs in protest against immigrants in South Africa.
Law enforcement officers will be deployed along the route and at venues where memorandums will be handed over, the cops have said.
Earlier on Friday morning, protesters blocked several streets in Atteridgeville, preventing residents from going to work and school.
Rocks were thrown and tyres were burnt.
Officials later cleared the debris so that traffic could flow freely.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the police could not confirm whether or not the protest was related to the march.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
"Looting of a truck was reported. We are still waiting to confirm," said Dlamini.
Tshwane metro police spokesman Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said they had received reports of several shops being looted, but also had yet to confirm the incidents.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/stun-grenades-fired-near-pretoria-home-affairs-amid-tense-standoff-20170224
A police helicopter hovered overhead and public order police officers weaved through the large crowd.
At one point, the group tried to push past the police.
Many in the crowd carried sticks, rods and other items.
One man said: "The foreigners have real guns. They are selling drugs and prostitution and the municipality is helping them. They must leave."
Some foreign nationals faced the group, shouting at them.
A group calling itself the Mamelodi Concerned Residents is leading the march to the Department of Home Affairs in protest against immigrants in South Africa.
Law enforcement officers will be deployed along the route and at venues where memorandums will be handed over, the cops have said.
Earlier on Friday morning, protesters blocked several streets in Atteridgeville, preventing residents from going to work and school.
Rocks were thrown and tyres were burnt.
Officials later cleared the debris so that traffic could flow freely.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the police could not confirm whether or not the protest was related to the march.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
"Looting of a truck was reported. We are still waiting to confirm," said Dlamini.
Tshwane metro police spokesman Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said they had received reports of several shops being looted, but also had yet to confirm the incidents.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/stun-grenades-fired-near-pretoria-home-affairs-amid-tense-standoff-20170224
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