Vehicles stoned, public infrastructure damaged in KZN shutdown
Several vehicles have been stoned while damage totalling millions of rands caused during various protests throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
Scattered protests, which erupted in the early hours of Friday morning, have brought parts of the province to its knees.
It's believed the protests are in response to the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma.
The N2, N3 and the N7 in the province were blocked off by angry protesters, resulting in commuters not being able to get to work on time.
Premier Sihle Zikalala has called for calm, while admitting that KZN finds itself in an unique situation.
"It is reported and believed that the protest is on the incaceration of former president, His Excellency Comrade Jacob Zuma,” said Zikalala on Friday.
"We understand the extreme anger of the people who are protesting and as the country and province we found ourselves in an unusual and unique situation where we are dealing with the arrest of the ANC and former president of our times.
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"We are therefore dealing with very challenging times but call on those protesting to do so within peaceful means and to avoid violence and destruction at all costs."
Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele commended police on the manner in which the arrest of the Zuma was handled.
Cele described Zuma's arrest as unprecedented.
“The arrest of a former president was a new mission for the SAPS so there was no referral point for all of us, it was simply unprecedented. It was also a mission that could have resulted in bloodshed if not handled well from the onset.
“However, it was executed in the most dignified and discreet way possible and I am happy to say enforcing the law didn’t have to take place at the expense of people’s lives."
A multidisciplinary provincial security plan has since been developed in an attempt to quell tensions in the province.
