KWAZULU-NATAL. – Police in KwaZulu-Natal attempted to manage several crowds in Durban's streets on Friday evening as protests continued. Additional police officers were deployed from other parts of the province to strengthen law enforcement.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, police spokesperson in KZN, said officers were using various public order management techniques to handle the situation while protecting lives and property. He emphasised that police must maintain a balance between people's constitutional right to protest and the enforcement of the law. Where situations get out of control, officers use the minimum legal force, including stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets, according to him. Police officers are also working to identify persons of interest, after which detectives will gather evidence and arrests may follow.
Firoz Cachalia, the acting police minister, visited Durban's city centre on Friday with Thami Ntuli, KwaZulu-Natal premier, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, provincial police commissioner and national project leader for organised crime, as well as Major-General Phumelele Makoba, the acting provincial commissioner, to assess the situation.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
