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.
WATCH: Now the community of KwaMashu is protesting by closing roads with burning tryes. They want the eThekwini municipality to swiftly restore power following #KZNFloods. Some sections like G, D, M and K have been without power and water since 5am yesterday. @DailyNewsSA pic.twitter.com/THJQ0AGykY
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) April 12, 2022
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.
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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.
#KZNFloods - Now angry communities who are frustrated by the failure of @eThekwiniM to quickly restore power and water services are closing roads and getting ready to picket. This is the situation right now in Ntuzuma, one of the heavily affected townships in Durban. @DailyNewsSA pic.twitter.com/e34M71sz1C
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) April 12, 2022
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.
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
