A 50-year-old man was stoned‚ kicked and beaten on North Coast Road in Durban while he was walking to work during violent protests in the city just before 10am on Monday. Kyle van Reenan‚ spokesman for Marshall Security‚ said the man was a casualty of the protest action that brought parts of Durban grinding to a standstill.In Pictures: Durban highway blocked by protests"He sustained moderate injuries and is in a stable condition. He will be transported to hospital. The man was walking to work when he was assaulted‚" said Van Reenan.He said the first reports of protests were received at 11.30 on Sunday night on North Coast Road."It is presently chaotic along North Coast Road‚ Effingham Road‚ Umgeni‚ Queen Nandi Drive‚ Sea Cow Lake and Inanda Road. They are no-go areas. Protesters were burning tyres‚ wood and rubble. Vehicles and people were stoned on North Coast Road."We have unconfirmed reports of shots fired and stoning of police vehicles on Queen Nandi Drive‚" said Van Reenan.Major Thulani Zwane said police were stretched with the number of protests."We have an unconfirmed report of a police officer that was injured on Nandi Drive. Shops were looted on North Coast Road. Protests are continuing on Queen Nandi Drive‚ Avoca‚ North Coast Road and Quarry Heights. There were also protests on N2‚ M25‚ Tongaat."No arrests have been made. Police are monitoring the situation‚" said Zwane.The eThekwini municipality acknowledged that the protests could be linked to the councillor list process."Investigations have revealed that the protest is of a political nature‚ and is not service delivery-related‚" said municipal spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa.“In the run-up to the local government elections‚ mayor James Nxumalo acknowledges that people are free to exercise their constitutional rights by voicing their concerns; however‚ residents should do so in a peaceful manner without damaging property‚ injuring law-abiding citizens or blockading roads‚ thus preventing others from going to school and work.” ..