Cape Town – Eastern Cape police reportedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of protesting Komani residents at Hexagon Square on Thursday.
Reports said the residents had gathered to protest the lack of service delivery.
Daily Dispatch reported that protesters who were singing struggle songs and blocking oncoming traffic, dispersed after being fired upon.
Komani was at a standstill with shops closed due to the shooting and ongoing protest, the report said.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality mayor, Madoda Papiyana, arrived a few minutes after the shooting with his entourage, the report said.
Rubber bullets were fired and tear gas was thrown at the crowd of protestors in Komani on Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/1jk88rd4Nr
— Dispatch AFRICA (@africa_dispatch) January 26, 2023
According to one of the residents, Axolile Masiza, the aim of the protest was to dissolve the municipality, reported TimesLIVE.
“We are tired of the nonexistent leadership within this municipality. People are struggling to sustain their livelihoods because of corruption and poor leadership,” the report quoted Masiza as saying.
The report said residents alleged that the town of Komani in the Eastern Cape had been without electricity for days.
Rubber bullets and tear gas was fired and thrown to the crowd during a peaceful protest in Komani on Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/eDBdWbpupN
— Dispatch AFRICA (@africa_dispatch) January 26, 2023
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
