NATIONAL NEWS - The Citizen photographer Jacques Nelles and journalist Virginia Keppler became casualties of a battle between police and residents of Pretoria’s Eersterust township yesterday.

A rubber bullet hit Nelles in the back while he was trying to protect Keppler, as about 20 police officers opened fire on protesters who had barricaded roads and were burning tyres to highlight their service delivery grievances.

Citizen photographer Jacques Nelles was injured when a rubber bullet hit him in the back.

“It was a peaceful day; besides the smoke from the burning tyres, the community was peaceful.

“When I saw police gather and load their weapons, the situation got tense and I knew there would be shooting,” Nelles said.

Unprovoked and without warning, the officers threw stun grenades towards a woman sitting on the ground near a burning tyre, then bullets sprayed out at the crowd and members of the media.

Victoria Daniels, an Eersterust resident, after she was shot in the face with a rubber bullet when police opened fire in order to disperse the protesters, 13 June 2018, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

“That’s when I moved to the side of the road. I turned to my left and saw Virginia on the sidewalk of a bridge, taking videos of the shooting with her cellphone.

“As I was running towards her to tell her to take cover, I felt a sharp pain and realised I had been hit by a rubber bullet. I managed to reach Virginia, pulled her down, and went back to take pictures. When I returned, Virginia was on the floor, screaming in pain,” Nelles said.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.