Residents from Farm Abrams/Abrams Crest in Kelso brought traffic to a standstill on July 13.

A small group gathered on the R102 during the early hours of the morning and blocked this route using logs and tyres which were then set alight.

The reason for this protest action was to show Umdoni Local Municipality the residents’ frustrations with the ongoing delay of housing projects they were promised years ago; and to give them a chance to demand answers from authorities regarding the lack of progress.

Umdoni Ward 10 councillor Alan Cutten confirmed that the protest was related to housing grievances, and engaged with the relevant role players during the course of the morning to ensure the matter was resolved as quickly as possible.

A few hours after the protest began, mayor Mbali Cele-Luthuli met with the angry protestors. They were able to raise their concerns about the delayed housing project and were promised that this project will still be carried out.

Once the crowd was dispersed, Saps, RTI, Umdoni Law enforcement and local security worked together to reopen the R102 and remove the burnt debris.

The residents hope that they will start to see more progress in the promised housing project in the near future.

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