Violent Protests Erupt in Hout Bay Months After Devastating Fire Left Many Homeless

Violence erupted in Cape Town’s Hout Bay as frustration over unfulfilled promises after a devastating fire left many homeless boiled over into protests on Monday, July 3.South African news media reported one person was in critical condition after being shot on Monday, though it was not clear if police or protesters fired the shot.Residents of the informal Imizamo Yethu settlement, that had been particularly badly hit, have been protesting since Saturday over the temporary accommodation they are still living in since the March fire. Promises of better housing known as super-blocking have failed to materialize within the three months agreed between the community and local authorities and locals say that their living conditions are cold, damp and dangerous.Cape Town’s mayor Patricia de Lille called off a visit to the site on Monday after police warned of the volatile situation, instead calling on the community to elect a delegation to discuss the housing plans.Footage by a local reporter shows tear gas being fired at protesters and one community activist airing his grievances. Credit: Twitter/Ashraf Hendricks and Ground Up News via Storyful