Unrest the cause of road closures
Renewed protest action erupted along the N2 in the early hours of Monday morning, however, this time the disruptions lasted only a few hours.
According to the Mossel Bay Municipality, the riotous behaviour was the result of criminal activity and not related to any dissatisfaction with municipal service delivery.
At approximately 05:00 on Monday, 1 October, protesters set a delivery vehicle alight close to the Dana Bay off-ramp from the N2.
It took a while for the police to secure the area so that the fire could be extinguished. This resulted in the N2 being closed to traffic in both directions during the morning traffic peak hour.
Soon thereafter incidents of stone throwing were reported along Louis Fourie Road between the Dana Bay intersection and the Casino Road intersection, resulting in the closure of that road.
For the third time in short succession the road closures resulted in Dana Bay residents being trapped in their neighbourhood, albeit this time for a short while. However, residents reported major inconvenience, such as vital exams being missed, job interviews having to be rescheduled and doctors appointments being cancelled.
The Dana Bay Ward Committee called on residents to refrain from travelling outside the suburb if possible, and when doing so, to remain vigilant and extra careful.
Many Dana Bay residents nevertheless ran the gauntlet to get to town along the highway as soon as one lane of the N2 was reopened and long queues formed as motorists tried to make it on to Louis Fourie Road at the Langeberg turn-off from the N2. Along Louis Fourie from the Langeberg Mall into town the traffic was bumper to bumper and very slow moving,
Louis Fourie Road from Dana Bay into Mossel Bay was reopened at approximately 08:15, with motorists being advised to proceed with the utmost caution.
Many residents have since expressed their thanks to Asla Park residents and especially the taxi drivers who intervened and assisted in calm being restored in the area.