Violent demonstrations broke out in Port Elizabeth over the closure of 33 schools because of a shortage of teachers
Police also forced to deny allegations they fired live rounds after demonstrators claimed they found shell casings
By SIMON TOMLINSON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 12:27 GMT, 28 July 2015
Children and parents clashed with officers after blocking roads, burning tyres and throwing petrol bombs during violent scenes in Port Elizabeth.
Tactical response units were deployed to bring the violence under control with water cannon, stun grenades and rubber bullets fired from shot guns.
Parents and pupils blockade the road with burning tyres during violent protests over the closure of 33 schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Parents and pupils clashed with officers after blocking roads, burning tyres and throwing petrol bombs in areas across Port Elizabeth
Tactical response units (above) were deployed to bring the violence under control with water cannon, stun grenades and rubber bullets
Several officers armed with shotguns were deployed to disperse the demonstrations. Protesters claimed they also fire live rounds
Some protesters collected a number of .45-calibre bullet cartridges from the scene which they claimed were also fired at them by officers.
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But the allegations have been strongly denied by the police who claim they were fired by gangsters who had infiltrated the demonstrations.
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Police spokesman, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, told Times Live: ‘Under no circumstances was live ammunition used by the police. We suspect the cartridges were from illegal firearm owners and gangsters.
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‘We have had reports from our officers on the ground that suspected gangsters fired on the police in between all the chaos.’
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She said any cartridges would be sent for ballistics testing if they were handed in.
Up in flames: The protests broke out just after 6am yesterday over the closure of 33 schools across the city due to a shortage of teachers
The demonstrators are also angry about the poor quality of education and a lack of infrastructure at the schools in Port Elizabeth
Some protesters collected a number of .45-calibre cartridges from the scene which they claimed were also fired at them by officers. But the allegations have been strongly denied by the police who claim they were fired by gangsters who had infiltrated the demonstrations
The protests broke out just after 6am yesterday over the closure of 33 schools across the city due to a shortage of teachers.
Parents and pupils are also angry about the poor quality of education and a lack of infrastructure at the schools.
Athol Trollip, the Democratic Alliance leader in the Eastern Cape told IOL News: ‘The fact is that schools in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth have been notoriously neglected and parents cannot tolerate this affront to their children any longer.
‘These schools are dangerous places, where gangsters and criminals prey on children because school safety is utterly ignored.’
Residents run for cover as police begin to disperse the demonstrations with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets