The Northern Areas Education Forum has made an urgent appeal for calm in parts of Port Elizabeth's Northern Areas rocked by violent protests on Monday morning.
What was supposed to have been a peaceful protest over teacher shortages and other education issues, escalated into violent clashes between police and stone-throwing protesters.
Several police vehicles were damaged.
Algoa FM News also encountered two people who were not part of the protest who were hit by rubber bullets.
There were also unconfirmed reports of live ammunition being used by police, one person being hit in the face with a rubber bullet and children also being wounded.
Several hours after the protests began, members of the Northern Areas Education Forum emerged to speak to the police where an appeal was made for calm to return to the area.
Eastern Cape Education MEC Mandla Makapula has announced that he'll meet with all principals from the Port Elizabeth Northern areas at the department's district offices in Sidwell on Tuesday morning.
Bhisho Education Department spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, says they're highly perturbed by the escalation of violence especially in light of last night's successful meeting.
Pulumani says the Department has agreed to advertise all vacant posts.
He also condemned the forced closure of schools last week.
"What we have agreed on is that all principals must convene in the District's office to have a heart to heart meeting with MEC Mandla Makapula. We will also make sure they submit all of the required documents so that we can start filling up those vacant posts" he said
Meanwhile, Algoa FM news has learnt that a high school in the Northern Areas that chose not to close this morning had received an anonymous threat.
Learners and teachers from that particular school have since abandoned school for the day.
There have also been reports received of looting in West End and that several shops have been closed in Gelvandale.
