Police arrested 22 people during a protest against increased taxi fares in Pietermaritzburg’s Copesville suburb on Monday.
Initial reports said that tear gas was used to disperse protesters. However, there were also unconfirmed reports that stun grenades and rubber bullets were used by police to disperse the estimated 1 000-strong crowd.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Joshua Gwala said the commuters, angry at recent fare hikes, gathered at Copesville and had planned to march to the city centre.
Gwala said they were prevented from marching by police as the protesters had not applied for the necessary permits.
He said that tear gas was used to control the crowd when police arrested a man who was apparently brandishing what they believed to be an unlicensed firearm.
He said 22 people were arrested and would face public violence charges.
By late on Monday afternoon peace was restored to the suburb. — Sapa