SABIE – The situation in Sabie is currently stable and all roads are open even though most of the businesses are currently closed. Protesters and authorities are currently in talks and hope to have the disputes resolved soon.

One protester however remarked that “We will solve with rocks and fire.” The situation remains volatile for now. Lowvelder will keep you updated as new information becomes available.

Vine taken by Stefan de Villiers in Sabie today

https://vine.co/v/et6ZhnKJdKn

SABIE – Business in town came to a complete standstill as a strike threatened to turn violent yesterday morning. This popular tourist destination was left a ghost town as business owners kept their shops closed as an estimated 100 protesters threatened to damage their stores, should they not take part in the protest action.
A resident who wished to remain anonymous for fear of her own safety, told Lowvelder that the strike was due to an apparent lack of water in the neighbouring Simile area and that all residents had to participate or “suffer the consequences”.
Employees of various businesses failed to show up for work. Commuters who work in Mbombela and surrounding towns, also couldn’t reach their place of work as all roads leading to Sabie – including the R536 from Hazyview, the R532 from Graskop
and the R37 from Mbombela and Lydenburg – were barricaded with rocks.

A bus was also also parked accross the road from Hazyview to prevent motorists from entering or exiting the town. Some of them attempted to leave or enter, only to be threatened that their vehicles would be stoned. Businesses like SPAR, Wimpy, The Woodsman and numerous other restaurants, hairdressers, schools and banks had no choice but to remain closed.

Another resident, Ms Petra Colsby, explained that her water connection is joined to that of Simile’s and that they were being left without supply for up to a week on a frequent basis. “We have to bath in cold, muddy water and cannot do laundry, cook or brush our teeth,” she added. Colsby complained that buying water for household purposes is just too expensive and she cannot understand how Simile residents, especially those with small children, cope.

According to Sgt Gerald Sedibe, the protest followed after a memorandum about the above-mentioned issues was previously submitted by the residents. However, Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) officials never got back to them. It was alleged that one of the protesters had died after being hit by a vehicle, but it couldn’t be confirmed. “No injuries were reported to the police and no arrests were made, but the SAPS had constantly patrolled and monitored the scene,” Sedibe said yesterday. At the time of going to press, locals had gathered in front of the municipal offices, waiting to be addressed by officials. “We have a restaurant full of patrons, but almost no staff members,” the manager of The Woodsman said on enquiry.
“They are protesting in order to voice their frustration about the municipality, but now the poor businesses are suffering, which is unfair,” Mr Richard Coarser, manager of Petena Pancakes, added.

On hearing of the threats, Coarser phoned his employees and advised them to rather not to come to work. He was shocked to hear the state that some of them were in. “They are opening our doors and forcing us to join the march,” one of them told Coarser. “They were terrified and in tears,” the manager added. At the time of going to press, none of TCM’s officials had responded to Lowvelder’s enquiries.