Cape Town cops fire rubber bullets upon protesters as the city is in lockdown

2019-08-08 74

Cape Town, South Africa law enforcement officers fire upon protesters taking part in a city-wide shutdown organised by rights group Gavtol Capetonian.

Filmed on August 8, a couple of officers are seen firing in the direction of groups of protesters.

According to local reports, these recent protests have come in response to the slow rollout of housing for working-class residents.

Writes local journalist Wesley Fester: "Officers of the City of Cape Town's Law Enforcement division (which falls under the jurisdiction of the City and not the South African Police Service) had a tough time holding back protesters who were attempting to close Prince George Drive which forms part of the M5 highway.

"The protests were part of a city wide shutdown called for by minority rights group, Gatvol Capetonian, which purports to represent marginalised Coloured people (mixed race people), who they claim have been ignored by the democratically elected government in post-apartheid South Africa."