Police assaulted protesters outside Parliament‚ says EFF

A demonstration by a group of about 50 young people protesting the recent violence against foreign nationals‚ or afrophobia‚ was dispersed by the South African Police Service in front of Parliament on Thursday.

The incident occurred while the National Assembly held a debate on the attacks following a statement by President Jacob Zuma.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chief whip Floyd Shivambu told the National Assembly that the group of protestors was “assaulted” by the police.

“The police are brutalising students who are protesting outside of Parliament‚” he said.

National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete replied to him: “Thank you for the information.”

Later‚ Parliament issued a statement saying initial reports indicated that the students did not have permission for their gathering and that stun grenades were thrown into the crowd.

There are no reports of anyone being injured.

The statement said the Secretary to Parliament Gengezi Mgidlana will be requesting a full report from the Western Cape provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer about what occurred and the reasons for any action that may have been taken by the police

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