A crowd of 1 500 people gathered outside the Hermanus Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, causing a portion of the R43 highway to be closed. The march was organised to support eleven locals who appeared in court in the seaside town after almost a week of protests in March.
On March 23, residents of the informal settlement Zwelihle began cordoning off plots on vacant land. Eleven people were initially arrested and after almost a week of protests, 79 people in total were arrested for public violence.
According to a Captain FC van Wyk, spokesperson of Western Cape SAPS, the protest is peaceful. The situation, however, is being finely monitored in case of violence breaking out.
In the previous land grab protest, a satellite police station, library, government houses, a private vehicle and spas shops were burned or looted.
Hermanus service protests continue and i sympathise with the issues that people have BUT !! when you start burning and looting and destroying BRAND new houses that were meant for people who have waited years for a new house….. my sympathy turns to anger and complete disgust.
— Gary Evans (@garye100) April 10, 2018
Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa says “Protest actionin Hermanus : Roundabout to Musel Road on R43 closed to traffic.” Pic: supplied pic.twitter.com/w4tEXa5UIH
— Anele Mfazwe?? (@mfazwe) April 10, 2018
The one day I had a nice field day planned and boom there is a strike with a total shut down ? #JustMyLuck #Hermanus #Protest
— Megan-Rose (@MeganRose_F) April 10, 2018
Tennis will continue at the moment. The protests are peaceful. Unless anything changes, we will see on the tennis court today.
— Hermanus Tennis Acad (@HermanusTennis) April 10, 2018
Picture: Twitter
