WATCH: Protesters demand answers on road contract

The protestors arrived in Scottburgh shortly after 7.30am, making their way towards the Municipality through Scott Street.

September 22, 2016

Juan Venter 1 minute read

Scottburgh, Mid South Coast Mail, South Coast Herald, uMdoni Municipality, Protest — (File Photo) Protestors make their way towards Scottburgh.

DISSATISFIED Amandawe community members marched to uMdoni Municipality yesterday morning to hand over a memorandum listing their demands following the failed development of a roads programme, which was due to be finalised in August.

However, the contractor left shortly after starting the project in May.

Residents of Amandawe are now angry, saying that the condition of the roads is worse than before.

The protesters arrived in Scottburgh shortly after 7.30am, making their way towards the municipality via Scott Street.

Despite on-lookers, business owners and employees looking displeased at the public display of outrage, the protest was very peaceful and no damage was reported.

Amandawe community members and spokesman, Hilton Msani, stated that uMdoni Municipality must hold a meeting.

“We want a meeting with the community to clarify and account for the R12-million project as it was presented. Development of the roads must resume after thorough consultation with the community, before or on September 23.”

Mr Msani added that the project could never cost R12-million and, as it stands now the project was only allocated R7-million, despite the initial sum indicated.

Hence the re-graveling could never be worth R12-million, said Mr Msani, referring to the likelihood of a concrete-based road as opposed to tar, he wanted to know what had happened to the other R5-million.

By 9.30am, uMdoni mayor Thabani Dube had arrived to sign and accept the memorandum and was informed that, were the demands not met, Amandawe community members were prepared to take further steps.

The roads in question – Fulfati Road, Ndosi Road and Percy Road – according Mr Msani, total about nine kilometres in length.

An independent source confirmed that the costs to tar a road – depending on the current conditions – could range from R4-million to R20-million per kilometre, which confirms Mr Msani’s belief that a concrete-based road would be constructed.