Motorists warned to steer clear of N4 near eMalahleni as protests rage on

Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe, urged motorists travelling between Pretoria to eMalahleni on the N4 toll road to continue avoiding the road near Vosman in eMalahleni if possible.

Protests on N4 turns violent

According to the department’s statement, the protesters have barricaded the road for days now. It is alleged that the protests were sparked by the lack of electricity supply in the area.

“The protests has been marred by violence, with some reportedly throwing stones at passing vehicles. They allegedly closed some of the routes in the area.

“The protests have been costly to motorists and community members who had to use other unfamiliar routes to reach their destinations.”

The department said law enforcement officers have had their hands full as they dealt with this protest and redirected frustrated road users.

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MEC condemns violence and criminality

Shongwe noted that despite the efforts made by eMalahleni Local Municipality to bring an end to the impasse, the N4 toll road remains closed in the area.

Shongwe called on protesters to respect the rights of other people when they protest. He has condemned the ongoing violence and criminality that have characterised most protests in the province, including eMalahleni and Bushbuckridge.

“Our progressive constitution guarantees everyone’s rights to express themselves freely, and this includes the right to protest,” said Shongwe.

“These rights, however, do not mean the infringement on the rights of others. Protesters must respect the rights of other people to move freely. They should refrain from destroying public or private properties, regardless of issues that they wish to bring to the attention of authorities.”

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N4 closure impacts economy

He added that the N4 toll road is an essential link between South Africa and countries like eSwatini, Mozambique and Botswana. Therefore, he insisted its closure has far-reaching economic implications for the province and the country.

He appealed to to the leaders to always ensure that criminal elements are not allowed to thrive during protests.

He thanked the security cluster for all efforts made so far to respond to the protest.

Edited by Cornelia le Roux. This article originally appeared in Lowvelder and was republished with permission. Read the original article here.

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