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By Nomalanga Tshuma 
2h ago
Cape Town – Police fired stun grenades and tear gas at a group of PAC supporters who wanted to protest at Brackenfell High School on Wednesday.
The organization’s Lindokuhle Patiwe said the PAC had planned the protest in support of EFF members who were attacked by Brackenfell residents on Monday morning last week.
“We are here today to protest against the attack on our brothers and sisters. They were attacked by arrogant white people in this community for speaking out against racism.
“The inherent arrogance of white people in this community is something to deal with. Some of them still have the impression that they can use the gestures of apartheid in African lands, ”said Patiwe.
In response to the unplanned protest, police cordoned off several roads leading to Brackenfell High School.
Several stun grenades were thrown at the group of about 40 protesters who, against police orders, had proceeded to march in the direction of the school.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said the circumstances surrounding a crime under the Gatherings and Public Violence Act had been recorded for investigation, following a protest in Brackenfell yesterday.
“Members of the public order police were deployed to the area to maintain law and order and were forced to act when the situation became unstable. The crowd eventually dispersed and no arrests have yet been made.
“The situation in the area is still being monitored and our forces will remain in the area until we are satisfied that calm has been restored.”
The EFF is planning another march tomorrow, after Judge Siraj Desai postponed the school’s governing body’s request for a provisional injunction for two more weeks.
Provincial MEC for Education Debbie Schäfer called for calm and consideration for the Brackenfell High School students who are ready to attend school as usual tomorrow.
Schäfer said: “While the EFF has the right to protest if it has a valid permit, it is obliged to do so responsibly.
“Therefore, I ask the residents of Brackenfell not to gather at the school for the purpose of getting into altercations. Any action that further increases tensions will make it difficult for law enforcement authorities to do their job, “he said.
Schäfer will also meet with provincial representatives of the EFF today, in an attempt to resolve the situation before the protest.
EFF provincial president Melikhaya Xego said that although the organization would meet with Schafer, they did not expect a positive outcome.
“Everybody knows that Schafer and Winde don’t have black interest at heart. The situation at Brackenfell is something they denied at first, and now that it serves their narrative, they are involved. The march will continue as planned as what happened last week with our members on Monday is not something to be taken lightly, ”said Xeko.
Cape argus
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