KwaZulu-Natal(KZN) police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse a group of people who were marching along Che Guevara Road in Umbilo on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident happened outside the Department of Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre, where members of March and March have been camping in protest over the department’s handling of asylum seeker applications. The department launched the first phase of its new Digital Asylum System on 10 November.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a group of people, most of whom were carrying dangerous weapons such as sticks, while some concealed their faces with masks and other items, moved away from the gazebos where they had been camping opposite the Home Affairs offices and began marching shortly after 15:00.
Netshiunda said Public Order Police (POP) officers stopped the marchers and reminded them of an interim court order prohibiting marches after 15:00, the carrying of dangerous weapons and the wearing of masks or other items to conceal their faces during marches.
“During the deliberations, the marchers, who did not have marshals controlling them as required by law, became violent and started throwing stones at the police.
“To manage the crowd and restore public order, police used minimum force such as stun grenades and rubber bullets. Police are continuing to manage the situation on the ground. No injuries were reported to the police. Following the altercation, police have begun an investigation into the possible contravention of the interim court order and assault on police officers,” Netshiunda said.
In October, March and March welcomed the decision by the Department of Home Affairs director-general to withdraw a directive on the intake of asylum seeker applications. The directive, issued on 28 September, was withdrawn on 9 October following operational challenges and safety concerns at refugee reception offices in parts of the country.
