Arrests made in Mtubatuba strike
Written by Minenhle Zwane
Protest action on the R168 to Hluhluwe has brought about the closure of the road on Monday Image: Syabonga Mdlalose
Disgruntled Mtubatuba residents have barricaded the R168 to Hluhluwe in anger over poor service delivery which includes lack of water, RDP houses and clinics in the area.
Initial reports revealed that the protesters gathered near Somkhele mine carrying banners written “Seskhatheke ukuxhashazwa manje”- meaning we are tired of being exploited now. Some simply stated that the counsellor has been promising to rectify all their grievances for almost 3 years now, but he is failing. The residents are also rocking the Mtubatuba Municipality with claims of fraud and corruption of tenders which were meant to bring development in this rural area.
Nonhle Mthembu, community member, said they decided to unite and form a protest because it is the only language that their counsellor and the Municipality Mayor understands.
“We are tired of these thieves who should have offered appropriate service to us from the first place instead they squandered the public funds. Now we are facing all these tragedies, and no one is addressing them” she said. “We feel like we have been abandoned by the very same people who were pleading us to vote and we share water from the nearby dam with livestock,” declared Mthembu.
Senzo Gumede, ward counsellor, admitted that all the grievances were legitimate, and he is willing to implement effective strategies that will assist to bring change. He added that he is not going to talk more about the corruption of tenders as that matter is already being dealt with in court.
Menzi Mnguni, police officer, said four protesters were arrested for public violence while the other five were arrested for burglaries and stolen property. Investigations to all those allegations are still at a very low state.
“We will remain in the area until the situation goes back to normal, but we urge all those who are protesting to act within the law,” he said.
Motorists are urged to use other roads when they want to travel to Hluhluwe as R168 freeway is blocked with a torched truck, burned tyres and waste.
Residents are expected to hand a memorandum of their complaints to the Municipality mayor on Friday.
