Durban's CBD became the focal point on Tuesday of clashes between police, foreigners and locals, with a car set alight, stun grenades and tear gas canisters being fired, and crowds taunting police by banging on the shutters of shops and running away as police approached to investigate.
Police spokesperson Jay Naicker said earlier a group of foreigners were allegedly throwing stones at passing vehicles, people and at the police in the CBD. Five people have died since Friday, starting with two Ethiopians who were petrol bombed in the container they slept in and ran their small business from.
"The police are still monitoring the situation," said Naicker. "We heard that there was a man injured but we cannot confirm at this stage as no case has been opened," said Naicker, when asked to clarify unconfirmed reports on social media that a Pakistani national had been shot, or had been set alight. As commuters headed home late in the afternoon, sirens wailed throughout the seaside city and a pall of smoke rose from the CBD.
A crowd of about 700 people gathered at the end of Monty Naicker Road, where it intersects with Dr Yusuf Dadoo Road. Suddenly there was a commotion with some men seen with knobkerries and rock, and police bringing out their water cannons to control the crowd. Stun grenades were fired, but most people had fled
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