Housing protest claims life

01 October 2013 - 02:14 By Sapa
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Map of Cato Manor, Durban. File photo
Map of Cato Manor, Durban. File photo
Image: Google Maps

A woman was shot and killed and another injured in a housing protest in Cato Manor, Durban yesterday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Colonel Jay Naicker said residents blocked Bellair Road around 4am. Police were called to the scene to disperse the crowd.

"About 500 people surrounded the vehicle. They started stoning the vehicle and broke all the windows. The suspects then tried to pull the police out of the vehicle," Naicker said.

"They heard gunshots among the crowd. They fired shots and the crowd dispersed ... they used live rounds. They would have been killed by the crowd [otherwise]."

Police returned a while later and found a young woman had been shot. She died on the scene.

Naicker said the crowd dispersed before any arrests could be made.

Spokesman for shack dweller movement Abahlali baseMjondolo Mnikelo Ndabankulu said the woman was Nqobile Nzuzua, 17, from Maphumulo. Another woman was shot and injured.

"Members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) opened a docket of public violence and one of murder," Naicker said.

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