One dies as South African police and protesters clash

One man died in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga on Tuesday in the second day of clashes between police and protesters. At least 33 others were injured during protests about the lack of essential services.

Reuters/Mike Hutchings

The clashes centre on an informal settlement in the coal mining and forestry town of Ermelo, about 200 kilometres east of Johannesburg.

Demonstrators barricaded streets with rocks, metal and burning tyres.

Police fired live ammunition over the heads protestors to stop them blocking the main eastern highway. Officers specialised in crowd control have been drafted in.

The dead man was found in an open field near the township.

The ruling African National Congress has condemned the violence and destruction of property.

The demonstrators accuse local councillors of being corrupt and failing to take seriously their need for clean accessible water, housing, sanitation and electricity.

They also angry at unemployment, which affects one in four adult South Africans.

Separately, lorry drivers on Tuesday continued a pay strike, which has been going on since Sunday.