Cape Town - Eight people were arrested for public violence in Cape Town after Khayelitsha residents burnt tyres and stoned vehicles, the city' disaster management centre said on Monday.
Spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said a group of 200 protesters were burning tyres and scattering rubble in the roadway at Duynefontein Road between Lansdowne and Vanguard Drive on Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning.
Just before midnight, a group of protesters started burning tyres and a metro police vehicle was stoned and damaged, he said.
"At 04.30am [on Monday morning] a lamp pole was removed and the area became volatile and the roadway has to be closed in both directions," said Solomons-Johannes.
"The officers fire live rounds at the protesters. No injuries have been reported."
Solomons-Johannes said protesters again gathered at Duynefontein Road between Lansdowne and Vanguard Drive.
"All the lanes has been closed to traffic until further notice and motorists are been diverted to make use of alternative routes."
A large contingent of officers were on high-alert to monitor the area after information was received that various groups wanted to disrupt Cape Town on Monday, he added.
"Three persons have been arrested by the City Metropolitan Police Department and another five by the SAPS for public violence," said Solomons-Johannes.
Last week, more than 60 people were arrested following protests in Gugulethu. Petrol bombs were hurled at police officers and an Eyewitness news vehicle was stoned.
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille blamed the African National Congress Youth League for being behind protests in the Democratic Alliance-led city.
De Lille said the protests seemed to be driven by "reckless political rhetoric of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and other groupings".
The City Press newspaper reported at the weekend that the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and Wits University had analysed protest hotspots in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, and concluded that ANC factions were behind some of the protests. - Sapa
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