Service delivery protest erupts in Mbombela

The affected townships include KaNyamazane, Pienaar, Lehawu, Tekwane South, Matsulu and Emoyeni and some parts of the N4 Road.

Some roads were barricaded with burning tyres and rocks, and a few trucks had been hijacked in the middle of the night. 

Schools and shopping malls within these townships remained closed. Political meetings, including campaigns for the November 1 local government elections, were also halted. Public transportation is not in operation, leaving commuters stranded and missing work.

One of the protesters said they wanted services and even threatened to boycott the upcoming elections. “We only want services, nothing less and nothing more. We want assurance from the leaders that we will all be given equal employment opportunities after the elections,” he said.

The crowds said that roads in many parts in the City are in a poor state, with potholes around every corner. Water and sanitation remain a huge challenge, with many communities still having to operate without clean, running water.

Reacting to the protest action, the Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, condemned in the strongest possible terms the sporadic closure of some roads around the City.

“We are not a lawless state. People must protest and raise their unhappiness within the ambit of the law. Our country is still reeling from the ravaging pandemic that had left many people without jobs. Therefore, any person whose actions sabotage the economy, must be harshly dealt with. Communities should refrain from blockading the roads, because that is not only dangerous for people requiring urgent medical attention, it also sabotages our economy,” said Shongwe.