Walmer township "calm" following Thursday's protest

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Port Elizabeth police say since last night, it is calm in Walmer Township, following Thursday's violent protests.

Walmer station commander, Colonel Jacob Flemmer told AlgoaFM News that all roads have been opened, adding that no incidents were reported overnight.

Hundreds of residents took to the streets on Thursday, burning tyres and branches, after the municipality began removing illegal electricity cables from a sub-station.

Part of a building was gutted by protesters and public order police prevented irate residents from setting fire to a councillor's home.

The metro defended its decision to remove the illegal electricity connections, saying they were damaging electricity transformers in the area.

However, Chairperson of Walmer Steering Commitee, Wandile Gxekwa, says the municipality will hold a meeting on the issue with the community on Friday

"We were promised the illegal connections would not be cut by the Municipality. Now we find out these same people are the ones disconnecting it. The municipality and police stole our wires" he said