Durban protest: Mayor to respond to demands

This according to eThekwini’s mayoral spokesperson Sithembiso Mshengu, who on Wednesday told The Citizen mayor James Nxumalo’s office had received the memorandum of demands.

According to Mshengu, the protesters – most from informal settlements in the area – handed over a memorandum demanding to know when they would be given houses. He added some had been waiting for RDP housing for 20 years.

The protesters also demanded to meet with Nxumalo, who was not available to address them on account of being in an all-day executive council meeting on Tuesday.

“The mayor could not miss the meeting, especially in the absence of the deputy mayor. We have heard their grievances, and we will be responding soon,” Mshengu added.

However, a senior official was sent to address the protesters on his behalf. Mshengu added Nxumalo would not be able to address the protesters on Friday, as he would be meeting with religious leaders over the Easter holiday.

Yesterday, KwaZulu-Natal police said a case of public violence had been opened and was being investigated following the mass protest.

Local ward councillor Deochand Ganesh said the protest was triggered by lack of action from the government, and that protesters were intentionally trying to bring the area to a standstill.

“The protest was primarily about service delivery not being provided by the municipality. It was a coordinated move to make the city ungovernable for half a day,” Ganesh told The Citizen.

The protesters reportedly barricaded roads and burned tyres and trees at the entrance to Sea Cow Lake, Burnwood Road and in the Kenville area. He added a team had been deployed on Wednesday morning to remove debris that had been left on the roads.

Provincial police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane added no arrests had been made.

– Caxton News Service