Flood victims protest in call for housing, water and electricity restoration

Burning tyres are strewn along the southbound lane while debris was used to block off the opposite lane in Canelands when flood victims protested. | Facebook/Reaction Unit South Africa

Burning tyres are strewn along the southbound lane while debris was used to block off the opposite lane in Canelands when flood victims protested. | Facebook/Reaction Unit South Africa

Published Apr 13, 2022

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Durban - Protests spread in communities north of Durban as communities called for the eThekwini Municipality to speed up the restoration of services and provide housing.

On Tuesday evening, protest action was reported in KwaMashu.

Daily News senior reporter Sihle Mavuso was in KwaMashu and reported that the community staged a protest by closing roads with burning tyres. They wanted the eThekwini Municipality to swiftly restore power following the floods.

He said sections like G, D, M and K were without power and water since 5am on Monday.

There were also reports of protest action leading into KwaMashu from the Newlands side on the M21 Road. It was believed to also be because of the flooding.

Protest action leading into KwaMashu from the Newlands side on the M21 Road, also believed to be due to the flooding. | Facebook

Mavuso also reported that the same situation unfolded in Ntuzuma, a neighbouring township, where angry communities who were frustrated by the failure of the municipality to quickly restore power and water services closed roads and were ready to picket.

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In another incident further north, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said flood-affected residents had blocked off the north and southbound lane of the R102 in the vicinity of Canelands, Verulam, north of Durban, on Tuesday afternoon.

“Protesters are demanding that alternate housing be provided after their informal dwellings were destroyed on Ramnath Road in Coniston, KZN, during the downpour yesterday (Monday). Burning tyres are strewn along the southbound lane while debris has been used to block off the opposite lane,” Balram said.

He said Rusa officers, SAPS and metro police were in attendance.

Burning tyres are strewn along the southbound lane while debris was used to block off the opposite lane in Canelands when flood victims protested. | Facebook/Reaction Unit South Africa

According to a Facebook post on the eThekwini Secure Facebook group, there were also reports of protest action in Bellair Road.

About 30 people were putting mattresses across the road.

There were fears that vehicles could be attacked and motorists were advised not to use the road.

Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad said the metro police public order policing unit responded to public protests.

“They were complaining about housing. They had no housing after the flash floods, they wanted housing and the municipality accommodated them in halls,” Sewpersad said.

“They also complained about electricity and also complained about water.”

Daily News