Police reportedly cordoned off several streets in the city centre in an attempt to contain the protest. (David Harrison)
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s spokesperson, Zak Mbhele told eNCA that charges would be filed against Loyiso Nkohla, an ANC councillor believed to be behind the protests in Cape Town's city Centre on Wednesday.
Nkohla was also behind the feaces row in June 2013 where 184 people were arrested in Woodstock on their way to the provincial legislature to dump human waste outside Zille's office.
The march turned violent on Wednesday when businesses in the city centre were looted. Cars were reportedly damaged as marchers moved towards the Western Cape provincial legislature.
St George’s Mall was also looted and several injuries were reported. Marchers reportedly wanted to hand over a memorandum to Zille, demanding housing and land for squatters.
But their demands were "unclear", according to Mbhele, who said it was impossible to respond to the protestors without a list of their problems.
"They clearly don’t want to resolve these problems," Mbhele said. The DA believes the protest is part of the ANC’s "ungovernability campaign". Zille tweeted:
Police reportedly cordoned off several streets in the city centre in an attempt to contain the protest.
Looting
Nkohla alerted reporters to the impending march early on Wednesday morning. Another former ANC councillor, Andile Lili, is also believed to be one of the organisers of the march.
Foreigners were reportedly the main victims of the looting.
Eyewitnesses said the protestors "swarmed" street vendors and informal traders, many who are foreign nationals.
Many were allegedly assaulted by the protestors and their goods were stolen.
By late Wednesday afternoon the crowd of approximately 4 000 people had dwindled to around 1 000. They demanded to see Zille and refused to leave until she agreed to see them.
Signs carried by protestors read "Zille must go" and "Zille is a liar".
The protestors were mainly from Cape Town’s informal settlements.
Codemned
The DA condemned the attack in a press release on Wednesday.
"The actions by members and supporters of the ANC Youth League, led by ANC councillor Loyiso Nkohla and expelled ANC councillor, Andile Lili today are pure vandalism and thuggery. The DA condemns this in the strongest terms," the DA said.
"The DA calls on the ANC in the Western Cape to dismiss Nkohla with immediate effect and unconditionally distance itself from his recent inflammatory public statements and behaviour today."