ANC Youth League protesters pushed through boom gates at the Ballito Junction shopping mall to demand that local youth be employed there.

Thousands of members‚ many clad in yellow party T-shirts‚ were escorted by police as they made their way to the mall‚ which was due for an official opening on Thursday.

Video footage from the scene showed the protesters lifting — and apparently breaking — some of the boom gates on the top level parking lot of the mall.

Stones were reportedly thrown at mall staff‚ and also at journalists who were taking photos and videos.

Earlier in the day‚ some protesters apparently set light to sugar cane along the route.

March leaders denied their members were responsible.

This is a developing story. — TMG Digital