Clashes at political rally in South Africa

Описание: (12 Feb 2014) The sounds of stun grenades reverberated around the empty streets of downtown Johannesburg on Wednesday as large crowds from rival political parties clashed over the right to march over jobs.
Petrol bombs were thrown and riot police were forced to retaliate with stun grenades as supporters of the ruling party the ANC came head to head with members from the main opposition group, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The skirmish happened after followers of the opposition Democratic Alliance marched near the headquarters of the African National Congress, which has dominated politics since the end of white minority rule in 1994.
The DA have accused the ruling party has failed to follow through on job creation and other pledges.
The South African Press Association said ANC supporters threw bricks as DA leader Helen Zille was about to address her supporters at a rally.
The DA members then ran from the scene and police blocked off roads in the area.
Clashes between ANC supporters and the police followed.
Earlier, thousands of supporters of the DA had gathered ahead of the planned march.
"Our job as the official opposition is to expose the bogus promises in the ANC's manifesto and to put our alternative offer on the table. We have a right to that, we have permission to do that," Zille told reporters.
Across the Johannesburg city centre, equally large numbers of ANC supporters had gathered to "protect" their party's political headquarters, Luthuli House.
South Africa will hold general elections on May 7.


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