A high-level government delegation led by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli visited Pomeroy today, following riotous service delivery protests in the area where members of the community blocked the R33 and dug up the road.
MEC Ntuli who was accompanied by Member of the Provincial Legislature Otto Kunene, Umzinyathi District Mayor Councillor Petros Ngubane, Msinga Municipality Mayor Councillor Buyiswa Ngcobo, Msinga Speaker Councillor Tyson Kunene and traditional leadership inspected the road which was damaged by protesters. Three suspects that have been arrested for public violence will appear in the Dundee Magistrates Court today and police are in pursuit of more suspects.
“We denounce the criminality and unlawful conduct of digging up roads in protest. As a democratic government, we respect people’s constitutional rights to peaceful protest without resorting to violent acts of criminality. Where there are genuine grievances, we need to engage stakeholders in order to address any issues amicably. However, we will not tolerate anarchy in our province and blockading of roads which put further strain to our ailing economy,” said MEC Ntuli.
\MEC Ntuli condemned the destruction of infrastructure and said the Department of Transport has not budgeted for repairing the R33 as all funds have been set aside to build new roads and maintain the province’s ageing road network.
“The road that has been damaged by protesters is a very strategic economic route because it connects Dundee, Vryheid and Ladysmith, and the damage will adversely affect economic activities in these towns. Anyone that threatens to destabilise the economy of KwaZulu-Natal and safety of communities will face the full might of the law. We are still quantifying the costs of repairing the damaged road however, we will prioritise building new roads as the costs of repairing the R33 which was deliberately vandalised has not been budgeted for,” said MEC Ntuli.