The community of Oakley in Bushbuckridge is protesting on the R536 towards the Kruger National Park, demanding that a tar road in Calcutta to Oakley be repaired.

The protest started in the early hours of Monday April 8, and is still ongoing today.

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Some of the community members claimed that they have been trying to engage the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM) about the dilapidated road that connects Oakley Village and Mkhuhlu for some time, and after they realised their concerns were being ignored, they decided to go on an illegal protest, barricading the R536 with branches, burning tyres, rocks and loads of sand.

They also threatened to continue with the protest until the premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and the MEC for public works, roads and transport, Mandla Ndlovu, intervened.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the BLM, Fhumulani Thovhakale, said they are aware of the protest, but not what they were protesting about. She said they would be going on-site to hear about their issues.

By the time of publishing, she had not approached the paper with any feedback.

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Motorists are advised to avoid the road and instead use alternative routes to avoid delays.