Protest over water shortages
THE R618 between Mtubatuba and HluhluweiMfolozi Park was yesterday (Wednesday) the scene of violent protests, which led to the overturning of a coal truck to block the road.
There was also burning debris blocking the road.
Initial reports wrongly suggested the protests were directed towards the game reserve while later reports said they wanted Somkhele mine closed.
It emerged communities were in actual fact protesting over a shortage of RDP housing and running water, and they demanded to speak to Mtubatuba Mayor, Velangenkosi Gumede.
‘We arrived at the scene of the protest earlier this morning to listen to the protesters’ grievances,’ said Mayor Gumede en route back to the municipality.
‘But when they said their main grievance was that they have had no water for three months, we notified uMkhanyakude District Municipality.’
Gumede said uMkhanyakude officials promised to meet with the protesters at 10am, but by that time the Public Order Policing (POP) unit had had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd after the protest got out of hand.
‘This sent the protesters running and when uMkhanyakude officials arrived, we were unable to locate them.’
Gumede said he would liaise with the housing officials to see to the communities’ housing shortage, and that uMkhanyakude, being responsible for water distribution, would handle the water issues.
‘We have had many problems with the Nkolokotho water scheme that covers the Somkhele area, since it was handed over to us from Mhlathuze Water,’ said uMkhanyakude spokesperson, Mdu Dlamini.
‘The infrastructure is there but pipes keep bursting.’
Dlamini said uMkhanyakude hired a contractor to work on this scheme, but there were other issues with the contractor.
‘We are currently advertising the tender to address the Nkolokotho scheme and we are going through the required processes to finalise it.
‘I am going to request that this matter is addressed at an urgent sitting and we hope to have contractors on site by 1 September.
‘Part of the tender requirements is that the contractor must investigate why the pipes keep bursting.’
Dlamini said, in the meantime uMkhanyakude would increase the number of water tankers servicing the area.