Teargas, stun grenades fired as EFF march in Brackenfell descends into chaos
Police have fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members who took part in an anti-racism protest outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town.
The police moved in after a man, who attempted to address EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, was beaten up by a group of EFF supporters.
The man was attacked after he tried to disrupt Dlamini’s address to the crowd.
Friday’s protests were the latest of a string of demonstrations against alleged racism at the school following a matric dance party held sometime late in October to which only white pupils were invited.
The EFF marched to the school to hand over a memorandum of demands but police aimed teargas and water cannons at the protesters on more than one occasion.
Before the man was attacked Dlamini could be heard saying "Who is this one now, what is your f***ken problem".
EFF marshals attempted to protect the man but soon after police started aiming tear gas and stun grenades.
EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo believes the man was sent to disrupt the march.
"It is someone who knows that if I come into this space, I'm going to provoke them because they are doing a good thing.
"Someone comes into our space, disrupt the SG what must happen? This person sees the police here, knows I'm going to disrupt them and if anything happens I'm going to run away.”
It is not clear how many EFF supporters were injured from the incident.
EFF set to protest at Brackenfell High
The party will return to the school to protest against alleged racism. Brackenfell High, in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, hit the headlines after a group of pupils hosted a private matric farewell solely attended by white people. The school has since distanced itself from the event, saying it was a private affair.
