Two people were fatally injured during a protest which took place in the town of Caledon on Thursday morning. Another person who sustained non-fatal injuries is receiving treatment.
“I am angered by reports of two deaths and one injury as a result of protest action which took place in Caledon this morning. My thoughts are with the families of the victims in this devastating time,” Community Safety MEC Alan Winde said to IOL yesterday. “It is alleged that there are political parties who are at the forefront of these protests. These parties are willing to put lives on the line to advance their agendas. We all have a right to protest and have processes to have our voices heard. Illegal action such as this puts the community and SAPS in direct confrontation. It also takes rights away from law-abiding citizens and has a huge effect on jobs.”
According to reports, allegations are flying that the two victims were killed as a result of police dispersing the crowd. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has been called in following the incident.
IPID has taken over from the police, at a crime scene in #Caledon where two people have been killed. Residents there have been protesting. The N2 has been closed a few times last week due to protest action in the area. pic.twitter.com/Bdo6PqDx9M
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) April 4, 2019
A post-mortem for the victims will be conducted today, and a ballistics tests will be carried out to determine who fired the fatal shots.
The N2 remains closed from the Garden Route Mall offramp towards to Pacaltsdorp bridge, and travellers coming in from Cape Town are advised to take the Glentana offramp onto the R102.
Those driving into Caledon from Cape Town are also advised to travel via George back onto Courtenay Road, Knysna Road and back on the N2 past the Garden Route Mall.
Travellers going towards Caledon from Knysna are encouraged to make use of Knysna Road.
Picture: Twitter