VIDEOS: Protesters refuse to back down as violence continues at Hoërskool Overvaal

The second day of violent protests at Hoërskool Overvaal has been marred by petrol bombs and mass arrests.

A member of the EFF stands outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 17 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia

Protesters once again gathered outside Hoërskool Overvaal in Vereeniging this morning.

Yesterday’s protests started out peacefully, but quickly went sour, as police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the steadily growing crowd of demonstrators.

Rival political parties African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members joined hands in protest against the exclusion of non-Afrikaans-speaking learners at the high school.

Today, protestors threw a petrol bomb at a police car, and continued to picket outside the school.

The Gauteng department of education has condemned the actions of the ANC and the EFF. The department has also said that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has been asked facilitate talks to end the tension between the school’s parents and protesters. The SAHRC has assured parents of Overvaal students that their children are safe.

Protestors remain adamant that the rejection of 55 pupils at Hoërskool Overvaal is blatant racism, and they have vowed to continue their actions. Some even provoked police, asking them to shoot them.

The 55 pupils have been sent to an alternative school, nearby Riverside High School.

Watch how today’s protests unfolded:

[WATCH] Police make mass arrests in Vereeniging #Overvaal pic.twitter.com/ouYv8dmZwM

— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) January 18, 2018

“Kill the boer, kill the farmer.” Protesters chant outside #HoërskoolOvervaal. (@iavanpijoos) pic.twitter.com/wCC11nIxaD

— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) January 18, 2018

“Ek baklei nie met jou (I’m not figting with you),” a protester tells a community members outside #HoërskoolOvervaal. They shake hands. @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/99uZEgxqhn

— Iavan Pijoos (@iavanpijoos) January 18, 2018

: Community members gather outside Protesters throw a petrol bomb at a police car outside Hoërskool Overvaal to retaliate with chants

: A protestor throws a rock at a vehicle outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Police and protestors confront one another outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeniging on January 18, 2018. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia

: Police officers conduct arrests after a molotov cocktail was thrown at a police vehicle outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Protesters march with a sign ripped from the walls outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeniging on January 18, 2018. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia

: Police and protestors confront one another outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia

: A protestor throws a rock at a vehicle outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Protestors taunt the police with calls to shoot outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeniging on 18 January 2018. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia

: A member of the School Governing Body and an ANC protester shake hands outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Police clear a barricade of rocks and burning tires outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Protestors burn a Democratic Alliance (DA) t-shirt outside gate of Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Police and protestors confront one another outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: A police vehicle hit by a molotov cocktail smoulders outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Protestors demonstrate outside the gate of Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia

: Police clear a barricade of rocks and burning tires outside Hoerskool Overvaal in Vereeneging on 18 January 2018. Members of the ANC, EFF and parents protested outside the school due to a court ruling supporting the school not include English First Language students this year as it is an Afrikaans school. Picture. The protest turned violent, with police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. Yeshiel Panchia