Police investigate Braamfontein violence
Three vehicles were torched in Braamfontein and Park Town last night as protesters blockaded roads and stoned cars.
A small group protesters started blocking Jan Smuts Avenue next to the Wits campus as well as other roads in Braamfontein in the afternoon, with police responding with rubber bullets and stun grenades.
A police vehicle and a bus were also torched by protesters.
Later last night another bus belonging to Wits was set alight in Parktown.
Police maintained a strong presence in the area throughout the night patrolling the streets.
WATCH A #Wits bus has been set on fire in Queen Street #ParkTown - this after 2 other vehicles were torched in #Braamfontein earlier.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 25, 2016
MV pic.twitter.com/Dqi2LeefF7
WATCH #Braamfontein The fire truck has arrived.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 25, 2016
MV pic.twitter.com/sfvKopJxTk
#Braamfontein A bus is on fire near civic centre.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 25, 2016
MV pic.twitter.com/h5ftLxLs8D
WATCH #Braamfontein Police vehicle has been completely gutted.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 25, 2016
MV pic.twitter.com/s3WsIwug63
WATCH #Braamfontein A police car has been set alight in Braamfontein.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 25, 2016
MV pic.twitter.com/MQiYMZr6R9
Police are probing whether the violence is linked to the ongoing protests by students over free higher education.
"Apparently a group of people threw a petrol bomb at the police van, but we have CCTV footage that we are currently viewing to check what we can find," says police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.
Peters says the situation is calm this morning.
"SAPS is monitoring both on Wits campus and around in Braamfontein to keep control," says Peters.