Cape Town – Riot police and protesters on Thursday clashed outside the parliamentary precinct in Cape Town.
Stones and bottles were thrown at members of the police’s public order policing unit, who told the crowd – appearing to be a mix of African National Congress and Ses’Khona People’s Rights Movement members – to move back to their meeting spot.
The City of Cape Town earlier this week gave permission for three protests ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address, one of which was for Ses’khona to gather at Keizergracht street.
However, at about 3pm on Thursday, protesters disregarded the agreed City approval and made their way to Parliament.
One of the police officers on scene was overheard saying: “Today, you don’t get into Parliament”.
Zuma will deliver his address at 7pm in what is regarded as his most challenging SONA yet.
African News Agency
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. @TheCapeArgus @IOL Protesters won't allow themselves to be manhandled and have taken it up with police #Sona2016 pic.twitter.com/79F17wjhKB
— Gadeeja Abbas (@Gadeeja_Abbas) February 11, 2016
Proestors throw bottles at riot police as they order them to leave the area. #SONA2016 @AfriNewsAgency pic.twitter.com/xCRE5kqTmM
— Carla Bernardo (@CarlaKatjie) February 11, 2016
. @TheCapeArgus @IOL Broken glass on the ground, after protesters retaliated against police. #SONA2016 pic.twitter.com/MT2CyOYWvY
— Gadeeja Abbas (@Gadeeja_Abbas) February 11, 2016