WATCH: Child dies after tear gas canister fired into her house during protest скачать в хорошем качестве

WATCH: Child dies after tear gas canister fired into her house during protest

A young mother, Vuyiswa Kapiyane, is grieving for her two-week-old baby girl who died from tear gas inhalation amid the violent protests in Zwelihle, Hermanus. Anothando Kapiyane’s died in hospital early on Saturday morning after she suddenly had difficulty breathing at home. ‘’On Friday, in the afternoon, a tear gas canister exploded inside our house.’’ ‘’We tried to cover the baby with a blanket and we thought that she was protected from the smoke,’’ said Vuyiswa Kapiyane. The community had embarked on a violent protest that saw police having to use tear gas and rubber bullets to control the crowd. The protesters began throwing rocks, demanding the release of one of their leaders who had been arrested for incitement and destruction of public property. ‘’From my point of view, when they [police] shoot the tear gas, they should shoot the gas on top so that it can just influence the environment,’’ community leader Simphiwe Silwe told News24. ‘’But what they do…they are shooting our people with tear gas.’’ At the time of News24’s visit, members of the community were at the Kapiyane house to hand over R 5000 towards baby Anothando’s funeral costs. ‘’I want the police to know that my heart is broken, and that my child died a painful death.’’ ‘’I really loved her and I did not expect to lose her so soon,’’ Kapiyane added. The Western Cape SAPS says no charges have been laid. ‘’I have heard that rumour, but no one has come forward to dispute it. So I cannot confirm or deny this,’’ Colonel Luthando Nosilela told News24. Vuyiswa Kapiyane's baby died on Friday, as protests broke out in the community. Residents had been demanding that police release community leader Gcobani Ndzongana. The community embarked on a violent shutdown, and police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. "On Friday, Anothando inhaled tear gas, so we took her to the hospital at 04:00," Kapiyane said. The child later died at the hospital. Western Cape police say no charges have been laid. "I have heard that rumour, but no one has come forward to dispute it. So I cannot confirm or deny this," Colonel Luthando Nosilela told News24