Performance Monitoring Minister Collins Chabane
Disgruntled Silvertown residents who were not informed about a Youth Day event in Port Elizabeth have protested outside the Wolfson stadium on Saturday ahead of a speech by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane.
“The protesters told us that they were not properly consulted about the event and complained about the lack of service delivery,” said police spokesman Major Ernest Sigobe.
Police had to intervene to calm down the crowd who had been burning tyres and barricading roads nearby, he said.
“We explained to them that their protest was illegal and requested them to follow the right procedures to address their grievances,” said Sigobe.
“Fortunately they listened and the situation returned to normal.”
The protest had taken place before Chabane’s scheduled address at the stadium at 10am.
Chabane’s spokesman Harold Maloka said the minister had delivered his speech.
“The minister has spoken…he is fine.”
He did not want to comment on the protest and referred questions related to it to police authorities.
Initially, President Jacob Zuma was to speak at the stadium but pulled out to attend the G20 meeting in Mexico, which starts on Monday. Chabane replaced him. — Sapa.