Police are maintaining a strong presence in Kwanobuhle in Uitenhage after taxi operators whose vehicles were impounded, protested outside the police station on Monday.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, said about 40 taxi drivers converged in front of the police station in Mkoko Street to demand the release of their vehicles.
He said about 60 taxis were impounded in various operations after they were found to be unroadworthy and the drivers were also fined for contravening the Disaster Management Act.
“Police were forced to use stun grenades to disperse the crowd that was burning tyres at the entrance of the station,” Naidoo said.
A 28-year-old man was arrested for public violence and will face an additional charge of contravening the Disaster Management Act.
“Currently, there is a strong police presence from other stations and specialised units to assist with patrols and enforce lockdown regulations,” Naidoo said.
Meanwhile, he said a case of public violence is under investigation after a group of people tried to loot a spaza shop in Helenvale, Port Elizabeth, also on Monday morning.
Naidoo said the crowd started throwing stones when they were requested to disperse.
He said Public Order Police Unit members used teargas rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Nothing was taken from the spaza shop and no one was arrested.
