Cape Town - Cape Town and some businesses in the CBD were counting the cost on Thursday after protesters who had gathered outside Parliament for a legal protest during Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s medium term budget speech smashed vehicle and business windows and stoned buses and cars.
Policing and Enforcement Services director Robbie Robberts said a total of six people were arrested, four for public violence and two for assault of a police officer.
The City of Cape Town called for all residents and businesses that had incurred any damages during Wednesday’s protest to open cases at police stations.
The Safety and Security Directorate said there were numerous incidents of damage by protesters in the city centre on Wednesday.
In scenes reminiscent of last October’s fees protests, dozens of police launched stun grenades at a group of students who had gathered outside Parliament, while some protesters climbed on police vehicles, smashed vehicle and business windows and stoned buses in different parts of the city.
Robberts said: “We are calling on affected residents and businesses to please open cases with the SAPS as video footage of events is available and will be used to identify and prosecute offenders.
“One Law Enforcement vehicle, four Metro Police vehicles, two SAPS vehicles, a MyCiTi bus, a private vehicle, an unconfirmed number of Golden Arrow buses and a number of buildings in the parliament precinct have been damaged by protesters.”
He added that City services had been engaging with regard to clean-up operations which will begin soon.
National Police spokeswoman Brigadier Mashadi Selepe confirmed that Wednesday’s protests resulted in cases of malicious damage to property being reported.
“Investigation is well under way and a number of protesters were arrested and we are continuing in following leads and more arrests are imminent,” said Selepe.
McDonald’s in Adderley Street had large windows smashed in but staff said they could not yet comment on the incident.
A KFC in Plein Street also had a window smashed, in an apparent attack by protesters.
Thousands of students and supporters marched to Parliament for free higher education. Protesters and police clashed later. Picture: David Ritchie/Cape Argus
Meanwhile Golden Arrow Bus Services confirmed that they had to suspend operation in the Golden Acre terminus and stop buses from operating towards the city centre.
The company’s spokeswoman Bronwyn Dyke-Beyer said four buses were stoned and there were reports of minor injuries. “We were concerned about the safety of our passengers, drivers and buses. We suspended operations into town for about an hour, we transported the buses to the depot in Woodstock,” she said.
Operations only continued at about 5.15pm. Buses had to be escorted back to the CBD by law enforcement.
Chamber of Commerce President Janine Myburgh said the short-term losses suffered from damage to property were a fairly small part of the problem.
She said what concerned business most was that the ongoing protests created the image that things were not going well in the country and the government was unable to cope.
“This is damaging to business confidence and will discourage foreign investment.
Cape Argus