“We’ll meet on the street”, say N2 protesters
There were also reports of vehicles being stoned.
What has to be one of the South Coast’s most serious service delivery protests saw the busy N2 between Marburg and Murchison closed to traffic for the better part of three days.
At the time of writing (Wednesday) the road was still closed to traffic amid a strong police presence.
ALSO READ : UPDATE: N2 Bhobhoyi protest – Department of Transport officials pelted with stones
Scores of commuters travelling to and from Port Shepstone found their route obstructed by rocks, burning tyres and piles of quarry stone.
Of particular concern on Wednesday was the large contingent of staff from Murchison Hospital who were stranded in Marburg and could not report for work.
Some eventually managed to make it through in transport provided by the hospital, and with a police escort.
The strike intensified on Tuesday when it is believed some protesters stopped trucks transporting sand and quarry and forced the drivers to off-load their cargo in specific spots between Bhobhoyi and Murchison.
There were also reports of vehicles being stoned.
Community leaders were clear in their demands: if they were not listened to, they would take action.
“If our calls are ignored, we will meet on the street,” was the sentiment expressed.
The protest centres around the poor condition of the D1014 road in Bhobhoyi which many are forced to use on a daily basis.
The community said it had been asking the KZN Department of Transport (DoT) to repair the road for the past four years, with no success, despite promises being made.
An agreement was reportedly signed by the KZN MEC for Transport, Mxolisi Kaunda last year, pledging to re-tar some 15 kilometres of the road.
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