Anti-port protest stops traffic
Protestors marched through the Durban CBD in opposition to the proposed dig-out port on Saturday, 29 March to hand a memorandum to Transnet and the eThekwini Municipality.
HUNDREDS of people from all over Durban marched on Durban City Hall on Saturday, 29 March, headed by the South Durban Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) to protest against the proposed dig out port.
Click the image to watch a video of the protest.
Citing the perceived refusal to accommodate the concerns of affected communities and a lack of public participation, the protestors sought to highlight their ire with a public demonstration of solidarity and by handing over a memorandum to Transnet and the eThekwini Municipality.
Starting at King Dinizulu’s Gardens, the protestors sang songs, shouted their demands and moved in three large clusters down Dr Pixley KaSeme Street, towards city hall. At the intersection of Joe Slovo Street, the vanguard halted the procession as the SDCEA’s Bongani Mthembu riled the crowd up over the loud speaker and spoke about the implications of the new harbour and the concerns of local residents.
Click the image to see more photos of the protest.
The peaceful protestors brought traffic to a halt as they sat and stood in the intersection for about 20 minutes, decrying the proposed port expansion. Included in the litany of qualms is increased trucking on residential roads and national roads that could lead to an increase in truck-related deaths; the transformation of Clairwood Racecourse into a logistics park; lack of access for fishermen to the beachfront and several piers, detrimental their livelihood; the displacement of farmers working the land at the future port site; increased health risks due to the expansion of the petro-chemical industrial hub and the contribution to climate change.
SDCEA co-ordinator, Desmond D’Sa said he was excited by the turn-out of people. “The protest was peaceful and everything went well. People came from all over Durban. I hope that at last, our voices have been heard,” said D’Sa.
At about noon, the protestors handed over a memorandum to Joe Nene from the mayor’s office and Ernest Ndwandene from Transnet as they gathered outside city hall. “We have given them our demands and they have 14 days to respond,” said D’Sa.
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