CAPE TOWN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Police on Sunday fired rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters demonstrating over the death of a fisherman who was shot dead by police near Cape Town.
Several protesters sustained minor injuries, witnesses said.
The protesters had allegedly set fire to several properties in Hout Bay, a harbor community, to vent their anger over the killing of the fisherman suspected of poaching on Saturday.
Local residents took to the streets on Sunday morning, and the protest soon turned violent.
During the standoff with police, protesters set a government building on fire, burned tires and blocked roads leading into the area.
A police boat and several vehicles were also set alight.
The burning of buildings and tires in the area sent plumes of black smoke into the sky that could been seen kilometers away.
Three people were arrested for alleged involvement in acts of violence, Western Cape provincial police spokesperson Lt. Col. Andre Traut said.
Police reinforcements have been dispatched to the area to restore order, said Traut.
"Our members will remain in the area to maintain law and order," he said.
