Durban - For the second time this week disgruntled construction workers blocked uMngeni Road and the M19 with burning rubble.
Protesters began placing barricades on the road at 4am on Wednesday, police said.
Since 6am metro police were attempting to clear the road for traffic to run smoothly, and a water truck was used to douse the fires.
Workers employed by Rumdel Cape/EXR Joint Venture downed tools four weeks ago demanding a R12 000 project bonus, and every day these workers have been protesting at the construction site.
Metro police spokesman, Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi, said they were trying to contain the protesters under the N2 bridge with the help of the Public Order Policing Unit.
The M19 was closed on Wednesday morning with officers diverting traffic.
Provincial police spokesman, Colonel Vincent Mdunge, said the road would be re-opened once the rubble had been removed.
“We are trying to quell the violence and keep the peace. There have been no arrests. We are monitoring the recurring problem,” he said.
When asked if police would be deployed at this particular site as a preventative measure, Mdunge said the police were busy tackling crime in other areas but “if this problem persists we would find it compelling for officers to monitor the situation”.
One of the workers, who had been part of a handful of those protesting, said they had had no joy regarding their demands and they were being sent from pillar to post by Sanral and Rumdel Cape/EXR Joint Venture.
Many angry commuters who abandoned their taxi transport and started walking to work, said the protests were a huge inconvenience.
“I live in KwaMashu and I had to jump off the taxi stuck in traffic. The driver told us that he could not get on to uMngeni Road. I’m going to be late for work. These employers must do something and talk to their workers,” said Dudu Khumalo, an employee at Makro.
The latest report on Wednesday morning was that the uMngeni Road side into the city centre was open, but the M19 Pinetown-bound side was closed.
Motorists voiced their frustration at the road closures and protests. On Twitter @pigspotterkzn reported that there was traffic congestion on both sides of uMngeni Road. There were also delays in Inanda Road, inbound, between Newlands and Chris Hani Road via Sea Cow Lake. There was also a delay on the M7 from Outer Ring Road/ St John’s Avenue to uMngeni Road/St John’s Avenue.
Daily News