Stun grenades used against parents in school protest

Angry parents blocked a major road on Wednesday amid ongoing protest action over the education crisis in Port Elizabeth’s northern areas.

Parents marched on Stanford Road to the Gelvandale Stadium‚ chanting “down with education department and down with Angie“‚ a reference to the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

The disputes with government include the filling of vacant teacher posts and assistance for special-needs pupils.

Nationalist Coloured Party regional chairman Marlon Daniels told parents that the time for speaking is over.

Police were on the scene and shortly before noon‚ irate parents decided to close Stanford Road after officials from the education department were already over an hour late to meet with parents.

Dressed in riot gear‚ police threatened to arrest parents who blocked the road but parents were adamant that they were not going to leave until education department officials address them.

Shortly after‚ Daniels was arrested and police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.