Five arrested as rioters cause widespread damage. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE
Five arrested as rioters cause widespread damage
WALMER descended into a raging battleground yesterday as thousands of residents who joined service delivery protests clashed violently with police while looters ran amok, vandalising buildings and homes, and forcing the closure of businesses and a school.
As chaos reigned for most of the day, police opened fire on angry mobs with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
Passing motorists and police vehicles were pelted with stones, burning tyres and rubbish filled the streets and many residents were prevented from leaving home for work after being threatened and intimidated by throngs of protesters.
At least one bakkie driver near a nursery in 6th Avenue was assaulted, three other people were injured, and a car carrier was set alight, while a terrified motorist had to flee from her car after her windows were smashed with rocks and she crashed into a tree stump. Five arrests were made. Residents blocked roads from 5th Avenue to 11th Avenue, and Victoria Drive and Main Road were also closed while fires from burning tyres raged in the suburb’s streets.
-Yoliswa Sobuwa, Zandile Mbabela and Gareth Wilson
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