Protests in Dunoon after food stall demolition

PROTESTERS blocked Malibongwe Drive and Potsdam Road with burning tyres yesterday after the City’s Law Enforcement allegedly demolished a brick structure used for business purposes in the Ezihagwinie informal settlement on Monday.

- TARA ISAACS

A resident of the nearby ZweZwe informal settlement, located just a short walk from Ezihagwinie, said the protests continued into the early hours of yesterday.

Protesters burned tyres and pelted stones along the N7 and Malibongwe Drive.

He said residents of Dunoon felt they were being “treated like animals” when a police riot vehicle and Law Enforcement officers arrived to demolish the structure.

It belonged to an elderly woman who sold food and groceries from the site, he said.

“Why come here without notifying anyone?

“They demolished her stall - where is she supposed to trade from when the rains come?

“This isn't right,” he said.

Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said while no arrests were made, officers were deployed to monitor the situation.

He confirmed that the protest caused significant traffic disruption.