‘I prayed for our safety’ – Lotus star caught in protest
“ALL I could hear was a hail of rocks hitting my car. There was nothing I could do. I instinctively cowered but I prayed. I prayed for our safety.”
That’s how Lotus FM presenter Mala Lutchmanan described her harrowing ordeal, trapped in her car on the N2 in Durban on Saturday as hundreds of service delivery protesters caused havoc with motorists.
Lutchmanan was travelling alone from uMhlanga to her home in Yellowwood Park when she noticed that traffic was at a standstill on the N2 near Solomon Mahlangu (Edwin Swales VC) Drive.
“I put it down to an accident and decided that I would have to be patient,” she told POST.
“I couldn’t see anything happening and decided to switch off my car. Ity had been idling for almost 40 minutes.”
Lutchmanan said a few motorists decided to turn their vehicles around and drive on the yellow lane and head for an alternative route.
“I initially thought it was irresponsible but didn’t realise what was happening. A gentleman came up to my car and told me it was advisable to do the same. Next moment I heard the loudest bang and glass shattering.
“The people in front of me had rocks thrown at their car and glass was lying on the floor, and I was next in line,” she said, adding that as rocks were hurled at her car, she began to pray for herself and fellow motorists.
“I couldn’t jump out of the car – the traffic was chaotic so my car was stuck and ambushed so there was no escape. I had to just sit and wait.”
She said she felt relieved when police arrived and began firing shots into the bushes.
“That is the only time it (the violence) stopped and police began to direct the flow of traffic.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said about 400 people had blocked the nearby Booth and Dunbar roads in Cato Manor at around 2pm on Saturday.
“Police were called and had to use rubber bullets to disperse them when the protesters were throwing stones at the police. They also used slingshots,” he said.
“The crowd moved to the N2 freeway where they again blocked the road with burning tyres and stones. More manpower was called.”
Zwane said one person was arrested and would appear in court on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
Lutchmanan said she was shaken by the ordeal but focused on getting home safely.
“I could not even think of going to the police station.”
She joined the N3 and then travelled home on the M4.
“My car has been severely damaged and is currently at the panel beaters.”