Clean up underway following violent protest in Uitenhage

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Cleaning up operations got underway on Friday at the Gambleville Post Office in Uitenhage after it was set alight during a violent protest on Thursday night.

Police said residents took to the streets in the early evening, burning tyres and stoning cars, before turning their attention on the Post Office in Rosedale.

One woman who witnessed the events, said a group of people used various weapons, including a tree stump, to force open the security gate, before tossing tyres inside and setting them alight.

She said their grievances relate to housing issues.

The Post Office, situated on private property, is the only one serving residents of Gamble and residents, particularly pensioners, will now have to travel in to town to get the pension payments.

A neighbouring shopkeeper said he feared for his life and locked himself up inside his shop until the police arrived to disperse the crowd.

No arrests had been made.