The grandson of the late former president Nelson Mandela was among five people shot by Eastern Cape police in violent protests that have broken out in the past few days near the statesman’s home in Qunu.

The protests were over the appointment of an ANC ward councillor for the area‚ the Daily Dispatch reported on Wednesday.

Ndaba Mandela‚ who was hit three times by rubber bullets on Monday‚ told the newspaper that he had suffered minor bruises to his thighs.

“I was just standing next to the road after enquiring from protesters what was happening. I was busy taking pictures when police fired rubber bullets‚” he said.

Protesters were unhappy‚ he explained‚ because provincial ANC leaders had failed to come and address their grievances. “All these people want is to be addressed by the ANC leadership.

“It could take less than an hour to do that and diffuse the situation. The Qunu community is saying the ANC imposed a ward councillor who is not in good standing‚” Mandela said. — TMG Live/Daily Dispatch

Read the full story in the Daily Dispatch