- Monday, 23 August, saw authorities successfully dispersing protests around Durban as rally groups obstructed Umgeni Road with ignited objects
- Those who actively participated in the rally spent the morning restricting access and passage via different roadways by obstructing them with ignited objects before authorities de-escalated the situation
- The SAPS received criticism from Dianne Kohler-Barnard, the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow Security Minister, as she highlighted the alleged slow response of the SAPS in reaction to the protests
Authorities scattered a number of protestors in Durban on Monday, 23 August. Reports revealed that a group had set debris alight and scattered it along the main motorway of Umgeni Road in the city.
The demonstrators blocked roads with the debris and tyres in the early hours of the morning. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Community Policing Forum (CPF) patrol members dispersed the protestors before things got worse.
Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Democratic Alliance’s Shadow Security Minister, confirmed that a vehicle was burnt and proceeded to slam the SAPS for their alleged slow response, according to The South African.
Some protesting along the usual Alpine/Umgeni roads in Durban from 03h50. A car burned. Private Security and CPFs informed the SAPS…who of course should have known this was going to happen and prevented it pic.twitter.com/KbhEcgbuOV
— Dianne KohlerBarnard (@DKB20) August 23, 2021
According to TimesLIVE, the protests started around 3am on Monday, 23 August. Private security and CPF’s communicating that there had been people gathering around the area. The report also stated that members of the public had also gathered in Verulam, north of Durban. Both SAPS and Metro responded to the complaints and protestors were scattered before clean up actions began.
Durban – Umgeni Road: #Protesting at Alpine Road pic.twitter.com/x7KGa4VS4H
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) August 23, 2021
South Africans shared a number of responses to the early morning affair.