Peaceful start to mass shutdown

IT has been a quiet and peaceful start to the planned mass shutdown following overnight patrols by Community Policing Forums and strong police presence throughout the City of uMhlathuze.

According to the Meerensee CPF, which patrolled throughout the night, there were minor incidents of tyres been set alight in the Mzingazi area by small groups during the night but these were subsequently removed from the roads.

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ROAD UPDATE:

· The road to RBM is clear.

· The road from Meerensee to CBD and to Empangeni is open and clear.

· The N2 had isolated incidents during the night where fire was set to trees and branches that were pulled over the road. These have since been removed from the N2 before the Richards Bay turn-off.

Buses from eSikhaleni are reportedly not running at this stage, however, transport from Mzingazi is operational.
There were reportedly some incidents of unrest and stoning of busses at eSikhaleni.

There were also reports of a fire on the R106 near UVS farm at around 4.30am, which authorities eventually attended to after initially being prevented from the scene.

There were further pockets of protesters, who reportedly blocked the R102 Eniwe earlier this morning. Similar reports were received before 5am a few metres after the traffic circle on the R102 at KwaDlangezwa towards Gingindlovu. These were since cleared.

This is a developing story and more updates will follow through the day.

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