Rage, riots…and new road promised
Police confirmed that about 400 people took to the road in the early hours of Tuesday morning and used rocks and logs to block the road.
After two days of riots, which brought Port Edward and surrounding suburbs to a standstill, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has promised an R85-million upgrade to a 4.7 kilometre stretch of road.
In a letter, addressed to the Nzimakwe community signed by Chief Director Siboniso Mbhele, it apologised for the inconvenience it may have caused.
“Emanating from our community meetings, we wish to confirm that the D1097, which is 4.7 kilometres will be upgraded to surface road. An allocation of R85-million has been budgeted for, and available for the project.”
The letter stated that the department will commit to its first D1097 project stakeholder meeting on July 1. This will be held at a venue to be confirmed.
It lastly added, that it was important that all proper procedure to design, construct and procure service providers to participate in the project be followed.
In the interim, residents of Port Edward felt they were being held hostage as the riots escalated.
Police confirmed that about 400 people took to the road in the early hours of Tuesday morning and used rocks and logs to block the road.
Protests in the area started on Monday resulting in all entrances to the R61 (at the Thongazi Caltex) station being shut. An abandoned vehicle that was set alight on Tuesday night.
Reports from the scene indicated that all roads were blocked and infrastructure destroyed. Business were barricaded and closed, along with schools and clinics. The Covid-19 vaccination programme had also been halted and there was no water.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said on Tuesday the Port Shepstone Public Order Police was monitoring the situation.
“The police knew this was going to happen yet had done nothing and stood by. They claimed that they had orders not to interfere. There were no signs of any response from the mayor, MECs or anybody from the state. What action was taken, proactively, to prevent violence and tyre burning? Why aren’t Covid-19 protocols being adhered to?” asked a resident.
“We are being held hostage by civic riots. This cannot be called protesting. Businesses were threatened with petrol bombing if they didn’t close. Cars on internal roads were stoned by roving ‘patrols’. This is not protesting. It’s rioting.”
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