There is a heightened police presence at the Durban Magistrate’s Court this morning as protesters arrested over the weekend appear in court for the first time.
The arrests follow protests in Durban against undocumented foreign nationals, which turned violent last week, with reports of vehicles being torched, shops looted and people injured in the city centre.
According to reports, 19 people, most of them students, were arrested in connection with the unrest and were expected to face charges including public violence and property damage. The exact charges facing those appearing in court today have yet to be confirmed.
Support for the arrested protesters is evident at the court, with many fellow marchers inside the building, while others wait patiently outside the court gates for updates from their leaders.
The gathering has drawn a visible show of solidarity as supporters await news of the proceedings.
