Terrified children – some only six months old – screamed and cried when police fired teargas at Westville community members who were protesting near a creche on Wednesday.
About 20 unsuspecting children were busy playing inside Baby Bear Creche in KwaDwesi – just metres away from Mission Road – where protesters had gathered in the morning.
About 100 protesters torched a bakkie and an Algoa Bus Company vehicle.
Police reported sporadic stone-throwing at nearby vehicles and at public order police who were on the scene.
Police have said it was unfortunate that children had been affected by the teargas during the confrontation, but there was no visual indication of a creche in the area.
The Westville community has been at loggerheads with the municipality, demanding that electricity be installed at the informal settlement.
Heavily armed police officers at the scene threw teargas in the direction of the group of protesters to disperse them.
However, the fumes quickly spread and entered the creche where a Herald reporter sought shelter.
Irate Baby Bear owner Thembinkosi Nzima labelled the action of the police as irresponsible and reckless.
“How can the police randomly drop teargas on people without first checking?
“We are not criminals.
“I run a creche where we have kids, some as young as six months.
“You can see the impact it had on them,” Nzima said.
“They are in shock and fearful. This is irresponsible policing.
“You saw I had to clean their faces because their eyes were badly affected. This is not on.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the Old Missionvale Road – which joins Uitenhage Road and Old Uitenhage Road in KwaDwesi – had to be closed during the protest.
The bus and bakkie were torched by protesters at about 7am, Beetge said.
“The vehicles are completely gutted.”
Beetge said it was unfortunate that children were caught up in a community protest and police firing teargas.
He said there was no indication that there was a creche nearby.
“But the community need to take responsibility.
“The people were committing a crime and the police reacted to their action.
“The police will never wilfully harm children.
“We are also parents. We have a heart,” he said.
Beetge said the fumes may have been blown by the wind towards the creche, causing the children to inhale the teargas...