Nelson Mandela metro mayor Nceba Faku was on his way on Thursday to a protest by Port Elizabeth residents demanding houses, police said.
”The crowd was told that the mayor is on his way,” said police spokesperson Captain Bonisile Sigobe.
The group demanded that Faku talk to them about the houses he promised, but never delivered.
”They complained to the mayor that they need houses. He made promises that he will attend to them, but did not attend to those problems up until now.
”So the people are sick and tired now,” Sigobe said, adding the situation is tense.
Earlier on Thursday, enraged protesters blocked the main road from the central city to KwaZakhele, set tyres ablaze and strewed rubbish on the road.
”They are burning tyres and have put big stones on the road. The situation is very tense,” he said.
Sigobe said motorists should not use the Mavuso and Joli roads from KwaZakhele to central Port Elizabeth.
”It would be dangerous to them,” he said. — Sapa