Schools, clinics and shops forced to close for Mqanduli protest
Mqanduli residents on Wednesday brought the rural town to a standstill with a service delivery protest.
Pupils and teachers were prevented from going to school, and shops and even clinics were closed.
This is the second protest in as many weeks in Mqanduli and surrounding areas.
The main demand is water. Villagers once again closed all entries to town, just as they did two weeks ago.
Among the demands from Ngqwara villagers is that they want clean drinkable water and sanitation.
A South African Democratic Teachers Union official in the area, Wandile Ngceba, said hundreds of their members were turned back on Wednesday and told they could not go to school.
“We thought the issues were sorted since the last protest, but authorities seem to be dragging their feet in resolving this.
“The time wasted now will have terrible consequences at the end of the year.
“This is frustrating because teachers travel from far to get to the schools, and lesson plans are prepared, then things like this happen,” Ngceba said.
Police spokesperson Captain Nozuko Handile said police were monitoring the situation.
No arrests had been made, she added.
Lower Ngqwara ward councillor Siyabonga Mlotywa said he was scared that criminal elements were creeping in.
“Initially residents were complaining about water and sanitation issues. There was a meeting and OR Tambo municipality officials said they were working on it and they explained that things would not be fixed overnight.
“Now it seems that people are bringing in political issues and they are complaining about other things, including the poor quality of the roads and schools that are not built.
“They are also removing children from schools, and that is wrong,” said Mlotywa.
He said shops and clinics had been closed too.
King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza said: “We strongly condemn any illegal activities and we do not want any infrastructure to be damaged.
“We encourage anyone who has issues to raise to come forward and engage the municipality and not simply decide to protest.”
Mandisa Gcolothela, secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, said they condemned removing children from schools.
“Yes, we understand that there are service delivery concerns in the area, but that should not affect school pupils. We want the community leaders to speak to the protesters to refrain from removing children from schools.
“They must go to the municipality and raise their issues there without interrupting teaching and learning.”
Provincial health spokesperson, Lwandile Sicwetsha said: “It is criminal to block people from accessing healthcare facilities.”
Education spokesperson Mali Mtima said: “We are calling on all community leaders to resolve the issues as soon as possible because this is affecting government operations, including education.”