Protesters threaten shutdown in Oakley
Is a shutdown looming? The Oakley community confirmed its plans of one, while Zoeknog denied any involvement.
Messages claiming that the communities of Oakley and Zoeknog are threatening to stage a shutdown tomorrow, April 10, have been circulating.
The Oakley community has confirmed it is planning a shutdown in Mkhuhlu. This decision comes in the wake of ongoing protests initiated by members of this community in Bushbuckridge along the R536 leading to the Kruger National Park on Monday April 8. They are demanding that a tar road from Calcutta to Oakley be repaired.
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The Zoeknog community stated, however, that they are not planning any shutdowns.
When approached, a provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, confirmed the police are aware of the continuous protests in the Oakley area. He also mentioned that the road leading to the Kruger National Park has been closed.
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The spokesperson for the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, Bongani Dhlamini, said he was not aware of the messages about the shutdown. However, he acknowledged that the roads surrounding Oakley were closed by protesters earlier today, April 9.
Motorists are advised to steer clear of the affected roads and consider using alternative routes to avoid potential delays.
