Daily Sun (October 1 2013) – THE protesters say they were defenceless . . . Cops say they were violent . . .
WHEN THE BULLETS STOPPED FLYING, 17-YEAR-OLD SCHOOLGIRL NQOBILE NZUZA LAY DEAD IN THE STREET.
Nqobile's father said he got a call telling him his daughter had been shot.
"When I got there she was already dead," said Dumisani Nzuza. "She was shot in the back and the bullet was still inside her body."
While Nqobile died at the scene, another woman Luleka Makhala (26) is in King Edward VIII Hospital fighting for her life after also being shot.
The march, organised by the shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, took place on Monday morning in Cato Manor, Durban, KZN police said.
Nqobile and Luleka were on a march with other Mayville residents who were demanding RDP houses.
A protester who didn't want to be named for fear of persecution said they were running away when the cops shot at them.
"I heard Nqobile and Luleka screaming but I couldn't help them,'' she said.
"They were being chased by the police."
The source said the march started in the morning on Bellair Road.
"But the police had already blocked the road,'' she said.
"We took another route but they blocked that as well.
"Eventually they chased us and started firing live bullets at us."
Aaron Mzimela, chairman of Abahlali baseMjondolo, said: "Our leaders are killing us and the perpetrators are known but nothing gets done about it."
But Colonel Jay Naicker claimed residents attacked police and threatened to kill them.
He said the police received a report that the community had blocked Bellair Road at about 4am.
"When the police got there they could not get through and tried another route but found about 500 protesters waiting for them," said Naicker.
"The people surrounded the vehicle, stoning it and breaking the windows.
"Then they opened the doors and attempted to pull the members out.
"Police also heard gunshots coming from the crowd and realised they were going to be killed."
He said the police then started firing at the group and the residents ran away. Police went to get back-up.
"When police arrived at the scene they found two females had been injured in the shoot-out,'' said Naicker.
"One was taken to hospital while the other died at the scene prior to the arrival of police."