Newcastle residents live in fear amid violent protests
Residents in Newcastle's Osizweni township have spoken of their fears after violent protests erupted yesterday.
A student who does not want to be named says she couldn't leave her home to register at her college.
"I don't know what's happening. We are not safe. The things that are happening here, it's not right. People are fighting and shutting down their shops. It's not safe for us," she says.
READ: Newcastle service delivery protests turn violent
Protestors took the streets over service delivery blocking roads with rocks and burning tyres. Several foreign-owned shops were also looted.
The Newcastle Local Municipality has called for calm. Mlungisi Khumalo appealed to demonstrators not to disrupt schools and clinics.
"We have been pleading with some of the protesters to allow emergency services to be able to access hospitals as well as clinics. We've also called upon them not to disrupt any education because we understand that education should be extremely important in the area of Newcastle," says Khumalo.
